From Shaunn Curry’s Facebook page.
WILLIAMSON CO.—Once again, Williamson County is in the news, and once again, it’s because of a cop.
But this time, it’s not fisticuffs, beating a restrained suspect or other such impropriety. This time, it’s a repeat offender, and the offense is just one of those things no one tolerates: drunk driving.
Shaunn Curry, 48, a deputy with the Williamson County sheriff’s department, was the subject of a press release from sheriff Bennie Vick yesterday (03.03.13):
PRESS RELEASE FROM WILLIAMSON COUNTY SHERIFF BENNIE VICK
On Friday evening, March 1, 2013, at approximately 6:40 p.m., Williamson County Deputy Shaunn Curry was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol. Officer Currey was off duty at the time of the incident and driving his personal vehicle when he was stopped for erratic driving and suspicion of driving under the influence.
Officer Curry was initially stopped by the Williamson County Sheriff’s Department following multiple 911 calls being received reporting a possible intoxicated drive on Route 13, East of Marion. Upon learning the driver of the vehicle was a Williamson County Deputy, officers notified the Illinois State Police at which time they responded and investigated the incident. Officer Curry was arrested and processed by the Illinois State Police and processed at the Herrin, Illinois Police Department and released after posting the required bond.
The employment status of Officer Curry is currently unknown due to the pending investigation and Sheriff Bennie Vick has indicated he cannot comment at this time as a pending investigation into the matter is ongoing, but will update the status of this matter when allowed.
In the meantime, Sheriff Vick wants the public to know that he does not condone drinking and driving and vows to investigate this matter in its entirety.
Good for Sheriff Vick, and good for Chuck Garnati (prosecutor) if he follows through. Likely he will, as Curry had an identical incident in 2008, which we covered in the pages of our print version in full, back in the days before we were online. So what we’re going to do is bring in that material, and cover this in full in the next print version, on stands next week…get the print version right here on you computer by enrolling in an online membership, where you can get the e-Edition delivered digitally. And keep with us on this stuff…the incidence of cops getting in trouble in southern Illinois is becoming more and more frequent, and we’re interested in how this situation, and others, will be handled for people who should be held to a higher standard than the rest of us.