The career of a longtime Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police officer is on the line. The officer was charged with driving while intoxicated and assault by automobile earlier this month in Union County, New Jersey, after he hit a teenager on a skateboard. The 17-year-old boy was treated for his injuries at Overlook Hospital.

The officer, who was most recently assigned to the Port Authority's emergency services unit, was driving his truck on Springfield Avenue at the time of the accident. He apparently struck the boy after he lost control of the truck and veered into the right shoulder.

A spokesman for the officer's union, the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association, said because the officer was not on duty or acting in an official capacity at the time of the incident, the group would not provide him with an attorney. The 39-year-old officer has been on the force for 13 years.

According to the Berkeley Heights police chief, the officer failed a Breathalyzer test at the township police headquarters. However, the chief would not disclose the precise test results, only saying that he was over the legal limit.

The officer will now be forced to face several unpleasant facts. The charges against him, driving while intoxicated and assault by automobile, could lead to jail time and/or fines, along with restrictions on future driving. This could also endanger his job as a police officer. He could also be subjected to a civil suit for causing injuries to the teenage skateboarder.

A person who is confronted with drunk driving-related charges often seeks the services of a qualified criminal defense attorney to ensure that a strong case is made for their defense.

Source: The Star-Ledger, "Port Authority police officer may have been drunk when he struck a teen in Union County," James Queally, Jan. 22, 2012