BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — A Minnesota law enforcement officer faces termination from multiple positions following his arrest for driving under the influence after a late-night vehicle accident while fully uniformed and armed.
Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges expressed profound disappointment regarding the incident involving Kenneth Gallion, 61, a part-time officer for the Chatfield Police Department, who was taken into custody shortly after midnight on Thursday on suspicion of driving while impaired.
Available dash camera footage capturing the arrest depicts Gallion wearing his complete police uniform, equipped with a firearm, and appearing unsteady on his feet in the aftermath of the collision.
According to Hodges, breath test results indicated that Gallion had a blood-alcohol concentration that exceeded the legal limit by more than threefold. The police chief noted that the recorded level surpassed 0.30, a concentration at which very few individuals maintain functionality.
Investigative details revealed that Gallion completed a shift working as an officer at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds at 11 p.m. on Wednesday. Approximately one hour later, a witness reported seeing his vehicle traveling at speeds approaching 70 miles per hour in Bloomington prior to the crash.
Hodges stated that upon contact, Gallion mistakenly believed he was located in Rochester, Minnesota, noting that the location of the crash was entirely off-course for a traveler heading toward Farmington, where Gallion resides.
In response to the incident, the Minnesota State Fair issued a formal statement announcing that Gallion has been dismissed from his role. He had served as a police officer at the fairgrounds for 21 years. Additionally, officials from the City of Chatfield terminated Gallion from his part-time position, which he had held for six years.
Chatfield Police Chief Scott Keigley expressed shock over the situation, adding that Gallion had previously demonstrated strong job performance. Records indicate that Gallion also possessed over three decades of prior experience working as a police officer in Rochester.
While expressing relief that the incident resulted in no injuries, Hodges emphasized that such behavior fails to reflect the standards of the law enforcement profession. Gallion is expected to face formal charges for driving while impaired and carrying a firearm while intoxicated.
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