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Alcohol Again - Nobody died this time
Official accused of arriving on scene drunk
Dickinson (Iowa) County's top emergency official is in hot water after he allegedly showed up drunk at a weekend boating accident on West Okoboji Lake.
Timothy Kinnetz, 31, a volunteer firefighter and emergency management coordinator for the county, was handcuffed at the scene of the mishap and taken to jail for public intoxication, Arnolds Park police officials said.
Kinnetz, of Okoboji, pleaded guilty and was fined $100 plus court costs.
When Kinnetz arrived at the scene of the two-boat collision - which had no serious injuries - late Saturday, Arnolds Park police officer Todd Schillinger said he noticed "a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage . . . watery eyes, slurred speech and a staggered stance."
Police said Kinnetz refused five times to take a breath test.
Dickinson County Sheriff Greg Baloun, a member of the Dickinson County Emergency Management commission, said board members have suspended Kinnetz from his director's post pending a June 26 meeting.
Arnolds Park police Chief Clark Reeves said Kinnetz contacted him after the incident and asked if Reeves planned to inform the media about the arrest.
"I've always made it my policy that it doesn't matter who you are and what your position is in the community, you will be arrested if you've committed a crime," Reeves said.
Steve Dulin, the fire chief for Arnolds Park and Okoboji, said although Kinnetz said he was dispatched to the accident scene as a firefighter, "from what I gather, it was more of a coordination of events."
Kinnetz could not be reached for comment. His status with the fire department was undetermined Wednesday.
Dickinson (Iowa) County's top emergency official is in hot water after he allegedly showed up drunk at a weekend boating accident on West Okoboji Lake.
Timothy Kinnetz, 31, a volunteer firefighter and emergency management coordinator for the county, was handcuffed at the scene of the mishap and taken to jail for public intoxication, Arnolds Park police officials said.
Kinnetz, of Okoboji, pleaded guilty and was fined $100 plus court costs.
When Kinnetz arrived at the scene of the two-boat collision - which had no serious injuries - late Saturday, Arnolds Park police officer Todd Schillinger said he noticed "a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage . . . watery eyes, slurred speech and a staggered stance."
Police said Kinnetz refused five times to take a breath test.
Dickinson County Sheriff Greg Baloun, a member of the Dickinson County Emergency Management commission, said board members have suspended Kinnetz from his director's post pending a June 26 meeting.
Arnolds Park police Chief Clark Reeves said Kinnetz contacted him after the incident and asked if Reeves planned to inform the media about the arrest.
"I've always made it my policy that it doesn't matter who you are and what your position is in the community, you will be arrested if you've committed a crime," Reeves said.
Steve Dulin, the fire chief for Arnolds Park and Okoboji, said although Kinnetz said he was dispatched to the accident scene as a firefighter, "from what I gather, it was more of a coordination of events."
Kinnetz could not be reached for comment. His status with the fire department was undetermined Wednesday.
We cant make the assumption he was drunk, we never met him and all cops are liars and out to get fire chiefs. I swear it was blown out of proportion by the big bad media,he only had a Pepsi cola after his quior practice with the handicapped children and he was framed by Mayor Mc Chesse and,and err ahhh oh yes the the hamburgler ohh yeah and the whole McDonalds crew was in on this too I bet. He wasnt drunk,nawww watery eyes, slurred speech and a staggered stance are the sign of any compitent member of the fire dept. that can still do his or her duty after a few.Hmm maybe if I get a few people to come on here and tell me how messed up they got as kids and how cool they thought it was wow that will only help my point!
Sadly this is not a laughing matter though,it is pathetic. We all as a service need to look this issue of alcohol and stop turning a blind eye to it and act like the professionals we are and adderes these alcohol "what ifs" before they become "what happends".
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