Spokane Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick has fired one of her sergeants for his involvement in a DUI hit-and-run this last September.

Washington State Patrol troopers say Sergeant Brad Thoma was legally intoxicated when he rear ended another driver in September then drove away from the crash without exchanging information about the fender bender.

Because it was the veteran sergeant's first offense he was able to enter a deferred prosecution program. Under that agreement Thoma can only drive vehicles with a special device that would test Thoma's breath for the presence of alcohol. The car wouldn't start if the ignition interlock detected alcohol.

However Chief Kirkpatrick wasn't willing to equip Thoma's patrol car and other police vehicles he might drive with the devices. Thoma also has to maintain high risk insurance for the next two years and Kirkpatrick doesn't think taxpayers should have to foot the bill for the special coverage.

Thoma had been with the department for 20 years and was admired for his work ethic, the large number of people he arrested and his ability to recognize repeat offenders on sight.