Yamanto cop Timothy Lawrence Shepherd sentenced for on-duty crash
A decorated police officer, issued a bravery award for crossing floodwaters to save an amputee, will now ask the Commissioner to keep his job after a drunken on-duty car crash.
Ipswich
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A decorated police office will have to plead with the state Commissioner to keep his job after a high-range drink driving crash while on the job.
Senior constable Timothy Lawrence Shepherd, 41, pleaded guilty on April 20 to a single count of driving under the influence of liquor.
The court heard Shepherd was charged on January 2, 2023 after he crashed a police vehicle into civilian car at the intersection of Bladon and Ash streets, Yamanto.
The court heard that when police arrived at the scene, Shepherd’s vehicle was on the wrong side of the road and he was described as “dazed and confused” and was breathalysed at the scene.
As a result, he was taken to hospital by ambulance for blood testing, which returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.161 per cent.
The occupants of the other car were also taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The court heard Shepherd was stood down from his position within the Queensland Police Service on that day, and was expected to face further disciplinary action.
Shepherd’s lawyer, Calvin Gnech of Gnech and Associates Lawyers told the court his client was hoping to convince the Police Commissioner that he was “fit to be a police officer” and will reinstate him.
Mr Gnech further detailed his client’s “impressive” work history, which saw him working in an operational support position at the time of the crash.
“He has received the 10-year medal for ethical and diligent service, as well as citations for the both the 2011 floods and the Commonwealth Games,” he said.
“In fact, during those floods he received the bravery award in regards to crossing, with a person, an amputee, across flood waters to save them.”
He was described to the court as not being a regular heavy drinker, however had increased his intake as his 9 year relationship “dissolved”.
The court further heard that Shepherd had been facing some “some other work pressures” that could not be disclosed.
Magistrate Kathleen Payne issued Shepherd with a six-month licence disqualification, a $1050 fine and no conviction was recorded.
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Originally published as Yamanto cop Timothy Lawrence Shepherd sentenced for on-duty crash
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