Three off-duty NYPD officers have been arrested for alleged drunken driving this month, coinciding with the department’s annual wave of Christmas parties. The incidents have raised questions about alcohol-related misconduct within the force.
On Dec. 14, Staten Island officer Jose Dejesus Jr., 27, crashed his vehicle on Roosevelt Street in Emerson Hill. Police arrested Dejesus around 7 a.m., charging him with driving while intoxicated, driving while impaired, and refusing to take a sobriety test.
A day earlier, Bronx officer Sheikh Aktaruzzaman, 28, was arrested after being discovered asleep in his car in the middle of White Plains Road and Wood Avenue. The incident occurred within the 43rd Precinct, and Aktaruzzaman faces charges of DWI and related offenses.
The earliest arrest happened on Dec. 6 in Queens’ 108th Precinct, which includes areas like Long Island City and Sunnyside. Donald Johnson, 32, was stopped by officers after a tip from a concerned citizen and was charged with driving while intoxicated.
A police source connected these incidents to the “holiday season,” when precincts and bureaus hold their annual celebrations. However, it is unclear whether the officers arrested were returning from department parties or other gatherings.
These incidents come as the NYPD deals with shrinking personnel and increased overtime demands. Critics argue the department must implement stronger safeguards to prevent similar incidents, particularly during festive periods that often lead to higher alcohol consumption.
