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Cochise County
Sheriff Larry Dever
A northern Arizona sheriff who died after losing control of his pickup truck last month and rolling it, was legally drunk and had a blood-alcohol level of .291, more than three times the state's legal limit, an autopsy report released Monday said.
Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever was driving along a gravel road near Williams, Ariz., on Sept. 18 to meet family members for a camping and hunting trip when the accident occurred, NBC station KVOA reported. Investigators said Dever was going 62 mph on the unmarked Forest Service road.
The autopsy report also showed that Dever was not wearing his seat belt, and authorities say there was beer and liquor in his truck.
On Friday, Cochise County authorities said Dever had alcohol in his system, but the exact blood-alcohol content wasn't released until Monday.
Dever was a 34-year veteran of Cochise County law enforcement. He was elected as sheriff in 1996.
On Friday, the Cochise County Sheriff's Office released a statement saying the Dever family "expressed great sorrow at the findings," according to a report on the Arizona Republic's website. The statement said Dever was "reeling from the stress and pressure" of the recent loss of his 86-year-old mother, and the scheduled deployment of one of his six sons to Afghanistan.
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Leave a Comment:
Glad he didn't hurt/kill some innocent family - - what a dirt bag - - suppose to enforce the laws and be the county's chief officer - NOT - blatantly violate them - - sorry for the bad publicity this brings for all decent law enforcement officers.
The article said he was "legally drunk".
As opposed to being illegally drunk with a BAC of .291?
A 34 year veteran of law enforcement with all of the stresses of the job and it was his 86 y.o. mother's predictable death and the potential deployment of his son that caused him to nearly poison himself with alcohol.
Accidents are a series of events that can be averted if any one of the several factors is avoided. How does one accidentally drink themselves to .291, accidentally drive 62 mph on a narrow twisty road, accidentally not buckle their seat belt, etc? The ones that would have been involved in an accident would be the people he ran into if he hit other motorists but his involvement would not have been an "accident".
Sad for the family, but, they HAD to know of his drinking and driving (this wasn't the first time was it?). Should have, would have, didn't do or say anything.
" Dever was "reeling from the stress and pressure" ... Oh - then in that case, no problem - he deserves a big Official Funeral, state, county and city flags at Half mass and manatory schools closing, so every one can attend.
I have yet to hear of a LEO, who died under 'embarssing conditions" - that didn't have "get out of Jail Free pass" accompany his passing.
What gets the goat is, no one I know - who is a non-drinker or a moderate drinker, is capable of that level of intoxication and capable of walking to his vehicle, starting it and driving - navigating on gravel back roads. You need to develop a high tolerance for alcohol, probably over years of abuse to develop those kind of skills.
In other words - he needs to have a close circle of friends, family - enablers ... who know of this habitual vice.
Anyone want to bet that this was his "first"ride at the driving drunk rodeo? I'll take that bet , give points and still end up taking all your money. Almost every LEO, long term Military Ofc/NCO I've met has had a severe substance abuse problem (and usually - a history of spousal abuse tossed in).
The bad thing about Sheriffs office is their are a bunch of opportunities to succumb to excesses. Its closer to a Out law org. than to professional policing.
Another fine, upstanding lawman who won't have to worry about running for reelection.
I have just a small correction to the first sentence of the story. While the accident occurred in northern AZ, the sheriff in question served Cochise County which is in southern AZ along the border with Mexico.
I too was going to point this out, having lived in BOTH Cochise and Mohave counties.... HEYMSNBC YOU IDIOTS>>>> COCHISE COUNTY IS IN THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF ARIZONA. IF You are going to Report a Story at least get it Geographically ACCURATE!!!
See Link for ACCURATE Details.
Cochise County is in southern Arizona. Dever is a southern Arizona sheriff, not a nothern one. He was on a vacation.
Alcoholism can affect anyone, as I am sure his family can attest. Too bad people who are against marijuana legalization, don't feel the same about alcohol, as it kills THOUSANDS every year, yet marijuana kills ZERO!
That is just stupid! First of all, people against legalization of marijuana, many times are against driving with alcohol too. So, that's silly number one, and number two, you know that marijuana kills ZERO, how? You don't have stats on problems with driving and marijuana. Don't be stupid by making up your own visions!
Sorry FlaNative55 but your post is completely inaccurate. Although studies show that driving while under the influence of marijuana causes less traffic accidents than alcohol, driving under the influence of ANYTHING is dangerous and illegal.
FlaNative55
How do you know that he was an alcoholic?
Michael Johnson-2683868
Are you serious!?! How can this man not be an alcoholic? His bac was .291!!!!! Nobody can drink that amount of alcohol and still function, without being an alcoholic. He walked to his car,started it,put it in drive,and drove it down an unmarked service road. These are not the usual actions of a person with a bac of .291. Especially since anything over .300 is considered LEGALLY DEAD! As in unable to function.
Sheriff gets drunk, kills self, end of story.
Does anyone thank charges should be filed ?
Warren. I think that you should file charges, what the hell? It might give you something to do.
He probalby pasted out with a BAC of .291, thats alot of booze.
Wow, sorry he had problems in his life - don't we all? No excuse to drink and drive and speed! He, of all people, should know better! My condolences to his family, for his death and for the embarrassment. He sure left a bad legacy at the end. Nothing like destroying your reputation along with your life all at one time.
Sad that no one was getting him help with alcohol. But, maybe they tried?
AllPeopleRights
"getting him help with alcohol. But, maybe they tried?" ?
Getting drunk does not indicate that he had a drinking problem. You should know that.
.291 BAC is way beyond casual drinking. Doesn't mean he was an alcoholic. But by getting behind the wheel we can probably conclude he was a moron.
In my world there is a very old adage by which people limit their behavior...
"One OOps can eliminate a million attaboy's"
Sheriff Larry violated the trust & laws he repeatedly swore to uphold
committed fraud by presenting a false image of himself in order to be elected
and exposed himself as a hypocrite
To have gained so much positive notoriety during such a long career
and then to decimate that credibility AND the credibility of those organizations that bestowed honors & praise on him points to something much deeper than just a drinking habit, the man was living a dichotic double life so devious that family members were either not aware of, ignored or supported !
The last line in Larry Devers life will be the one most descriptive & memorable..
In the end he succumbed to his own delusions & died another drunk behind the controls of a machine he had no business operating .
The phrase " They die as they lived" is sadly befitting .
Oh look another law abiding, example setting cop, NOT.
Too bad this wasn't good old Sheriff Joe
Sound like you are wishing death upon a human. And I'll bet you THINK you are a nice person.
Nothing new here, everyone in ARIZONA drinks while they drive. You cannot change their culture. The biggest mistake he made was driving at over 60 miles per hour on a unpaved road. This might have happened even if he had nothing to drink. Next time someone out WEST stops you and asks you to take a breathalyzer you just tell them you first. You can give me a ticket if i am drunker then you!!!!
That's an out and out LIE. A made up fabrication. You must think you're soooo important, everyone must think as you do.
Not everyone.
SRBINAT. So, "everyone", includes you ?
Yes he was a cop.
Yes he was human.
People in glass houses.....
Sorry?
Have you noticed how this really wasn't his fault that he was drunk driving, he was under a lot of stress. If you get drunk, drink at home and do not drive, it is so very simple.
Most drunks and druggies I've heard from will say they drive better drunk or stoned.
Other than his drinking problem, our sheriff was a good guy.
justa good ol boy, never meanin no harm.......
Experiencing personal stress is no excuse to drive ANY road drunk. Drunk driving is a crime regardless if your law enforcement or a law abiding citizen.
Too bad it wasn't der sturmfuerher Joe Arpaio.
I don't like sheriff arpaio, but I'd never be so cruel and heartless as to wish death upon anyone. Please get back in your cave.
I wouldn't wish death on a fellow human being either Tumbleweed.
You just did Hatfield. That's why the McCoys are always mad at y'all.
A Republican Law Officer is never wrong, especially in Arizona. Must have been Obamas' fault.
Well: This county went democrat in the last few elections.
next.
What this may come down to is the fact that many sheriffs, police, campus police (see yesterday's killing of naked college student) have a sense that they are above the law. Had he not died, and not killed anyone else, he would have not have been treated the same as you or I.
Thank God he was alone and didn't take anyone with him. He was almost four times over the legal limit. No one in a position such as his gets that grieved. Good riddance. I suspect this was not the first time.
billybee68.
You are an extremely cruel person. I bet you are in church every Sunday morning. Quit wasting God's time.
I have lived in Cochise County most of my life. I met Sheriff Dever on multiple occasion and always found him to be a decent, principled, and caring man. But he was human like the rest of us and made a fatal mistake and paid the ultimate price. Cochise County has lost one of the finest lawmen in the nation.Those of you posting here that are making negative comments that did not know the man are to be pitied for your ignorance. And whether he was Republican or not makes not one whit of difference.
to; Ed-NavDoc - He was a Republican!!! It does make a difference because those law abiding, self rightous, holier than you, so called law enforcement officers will point it out to you before and after an election. You may have found him to be a decent, principled & caring man, but I don't consider driving with a blood alcohol level that high to be anything but undecent, unprincipled and uncaring. It's a miracle he didn't kill some innocent person out there on the road. Being a good person doesn't include putting another persons live at risk no matter who you are.
Tacky, I suppose you are the one to cast the first stone huh? So, in your view if he was a Democrat that would change everything? Get real!
My second to last sentence above was tailor made for people like you. As I said, he already paid the ultimate price for his mistake! I never said the man was perfect. Your screen name obviously is a good match to your personality.
My sincere condolences to the Dever family. May Sheriff Dever rest in peace.
Billybee68, a man is dead. A grieving family has lost a husband and father and you say good riddance? Bud, you are one sick and disturbed puppy! Go crawl back to the slime pit you came out of! Post #22 applies to you as well!
62 mph. If he had gotten to 88, maybe he'd think before that first one.