A Yates County correction officer has been fired after showing up to work under the influence and driving drunk to the jail, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Bruce J. Hansen, 32, of Penn Yan, was arrested Wednesday after co-workers reported he appeared intoxicated when reporting for duty at the county jail around 3 p.m.
An investigation confirmed Hansen had consumed alcohol before arriving. Deputies say he drove to the Public Safety Building in his personal vehicle, where he failed field sobriety tests and was taken into custody. A chemical test later confirmed his blood alcohol content was 0.08% or higher.
Hansen was charged with DWI and released on tickets. He’ll appear in Penn Yan Village Court at a later date.
The Sheriff’s Office said Hansen’s employment was terminated immediately. In a statement, the department said staff “handled the situation exactly the way we would hope: in a professional manner.”
Officials also encouraged anyone struggling with alcohol or substance abuse to seek help before it’s too late.
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