Cop suspected of being drunk sent home

Cathy Scott

Friday, April 24, 1998 | 10:12 a.m.

A Metro Police patrol officer, suspected of being drunk on the job, was sent home during the beginning of her shift Tuesday, police said.

Officer Beverly Wagner arrived at work in uniform at the start of the swing shift and reported to briefing about 2:30 p.m. She appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, police sources said.

Wagner is assigned to the Downtown Area Command, which is housed in the old Fifth Street School.

Suspecting Wagner was under the influence, officials ordered her to take an alcohol screening test, police sources said. Then she was sent home for the day, sources said.

Lt. Rick Alba, spokesman for the department, said that "an investigation of an officer" is being done. "The charge is conduct unbecoming," he said.

But Alba refused to provide the officer's number of years on the force.

"There are so many internal investigations going on right now, that I couldn't give you any more specific information," Alba said.

However, an Internal Affairs Bureau investigator said an internal investigation by the IAB office was opened Thursday.