Two Dallas police officers were arrested on consecutive days this week for alcohol-related offenses, according to the department’s own reports.
Officer Elijah Walker was arrested on June 10 in neighboring Euless for driving while intoxicated. Officer Jerrid Couch faced arrest the following day by his own department for public intoxication.
The back-to-back arrests raise questions about officer conduct and accountability within the Dallas Police Department. Both officers joined the force relatively recently and now face internal investigations.
Walker, badge number 12538, has served in the Central Patrol Division since March 2023. The Euless Police Department charged him with DWI, a Class B misdemeanor.
Couch, who carries badge number 12622, began his career in September 2023. He works in the Northeast Patrol Division and faces the lesser charge of public intoxication, a Class C misdemeanor.
Still, both officers immediately went on administrative leave. The department’s Internal Affairs division will investigate each case separately.
The timing couldn’t be worse for a department already facing staffing challenges. Walker and Couch represent newer recruits who should be helping fill patrol gaps.
That said, administrative leave is standard procedure during investigations. The outcomes will determine whether the officers return to duty or face termination.
Last month, the Dallas Police Department fired three officers who had been arrested in separate incidents on misdemeanor charges, including assault – family violence and deadly conduct, as reported by The Dallas Express.
