Officer Suspended After Drunk Driving Crash - WLNS TV 6 Lansing - Jackson | Your Local News Leader

A 17-year-veteran Lansing Police Department sergeant has been placed on paid administrative leave and is the subject of a criminal investigation after he was involved in a traffic crash in DeWitt.

Department officials said 41-year-old Sergeant Todd Johnson crashed about 3:30 p.m. Thursday off Chandler and State Roads.

Johnson was off duty at the time of the crash, driving a pick-up truck. Police say he was traveling too fast and took a turn too wide when he crashed into a cargo truck. He was arrested for drunk driving and taken to a local hospital for minor injuries.

Lansing Police Chief Teresa Szymanski described Johnson as a good officer.

"No problems, an excellent employee and he's been with us for 17 years," said Szymanski.

DeWitt Township police are investigating. The Lansing Police Department Office of Internal Affairs will investigate once the criminal investigation is complete.

Szymanski says she's taking the allegations seriously.

 "We enforce the law. It's disappointing when we have conduct and we have to look at things like this. We're not held to the higher standard so it is quite disappointing but we'll see how this plays out," she said. "If it is found that he did violate some policies and procedures, he will be disciplined and that could range anywhere from a written reprimand to termination."