Two officers with the Los Angeles Police Department have been relieved of duty without pay and slapped with criminal charges after Glendale police allegedly found them intoxicated in an unmarked police cruiser.
The incident occurred on April 27 just before 2 a.m. Glendale officers say they found Commander Nicole Mehringer and Sergeant James Kelly inside the cruiser, which had rolled into another vehicle, near Lomita Ave. and Brand Blvd. in Glendale. Kelly, who was behind the wheel, had a blood alcohol content of at least .20%, which is more than twice the legal limit. He has been charged with one count of driving under the influence. Mehringer faces a single misdemeanor charge of public intoxication.
Both of the officers had been steadily rising the ranks of the LAPD and appeared to be headed for promising careers. Kelly had received a coveted promotion to sergeant from former chief Charlie Beck just last year.
The two were relieved of duties in July.