Algonquin police sergeant on paid leave after off-duty DUI arrest
An Algonquin police sergeant who was arrested after an alleged drunken driving crash has been placed on paid administrative leave, officials said.
Officers with the McHenry Police Department arrested Timothy P. Cooney of Lake in the Hills on Feb. 21, McHenry Deputy Police Chief Thomas Walsh said.
The 34-year-old Cooney is accused of crashing into another vehicle while allegedly under the influence of alcohol, Walsh said. There were no injuries.
McHenry police responded at 6:45 p.m. to a crash at the intersection of Curran Road and Dartmoor Drive, Walsh said.
Cooney was traveling south on Curran Road when he tried to turn his 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer left onto Dartmoor Drive, Walsh said. Cooney's vehicle turned into the path of a 2004 Buick LeSabre that was traveling north on Curran Road.
Cooney, who declined to perform roadside sobriety tests, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. He also was cited for failure to yield turning left and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
He was released from police custody that day after posting $300 bail, records show.
Cooney earns $112,256 annually working as a sergeant for the Algonquin Police Department, according to village documents.
He was off duty and driving his personal vehicle at the time of the crash, Algonquin Deputy Police Chief Ryan Markham said.
The department removed Cooney from duty and placed him on paid administrative leave on Feb. 21, Markham said. An internal investigation is ongoing.