By George Brennan
SANDWICH — Daniel Perkins, a
Sandwich police officer charged with driving under the influence of alcohol,
was suspended for 60 days for his role in an off-duty crash, Police Chief Peter
Wack said Monday.
Perkins, 38, was cited in an
internal investigation for criminal conduct, conduct unbecoming an employee and
failing to report for duty, Wack said. The police department is withholding the
details of the internal investigation at the request of Cape and Islands
District Attorney Michael O'Keefe's office because of the ongoing criminal
case, he said.
The chief said Perkins already
has served the majority of his suspension unpaid, but is back at work
performing police duties at no cost to the town as part of his punishment.
If Perkins were to serve the
complete suspension without doing patrols, the department would have to pay
overtime to fill his shifts, Wack said.
Perkins, a five-year veteran of
the department, allegedly was involved in a single-vehicle crash Nov. 30 in
Mashpee near the Sandwich town line.
The crash occurred just after
11 p.m. and Perkins had to be freed from the truck he was driving with a
hydraulic rescue tool. He was taken to Cape Cod Hospital, where he was treated
and released.
A second police officer, John Manley,
was punished with a three-day suspension for his role in the off-duty incident,
Wack said. Manley, a two-year veteran of the department, was cited in the
internal investigation for conduct unbecoming an employee and neglect of duty.
The officer allegedly arrived
at the scene of the crash after it occurred, Wack said.
The reasons for Manley's
punishment were not detailed.
"The investigations will
be released at the appropriate time," Wack said.
Perkins is scheduled to be
arraigned Feb. 19 on the charge of operating under the influence of alcohol,
according to a Falmouth District Court clerk. During a closed-door hearing at
that court Jan. 15, a magistrate determined there was enough evidence to
proceed with the drunken-driving charge against him.
