St. Paul police officer faces DWI charges
ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) - A St. Paul police officer faces two DWI charges after he damaged several cars and failed a field sobriety test last November in St. Paul.
Shortly before 7 p.m. on Nov. 13, 2016, state troopers responded to a car accident near Fairview and Hague avenues where a black pick-up truck struck a passenger car and damaged four parked cars.
The driver, 38-year-old Cory Kochendorfer, admitted to authorities that he had been drinking. According to the criminal complaint, the trooper noted "the faint odor of an alcoholic beverage and other signs of intoxication."
Kochendorfer failed the field sobriety tests and admitted to drinking five beers. His blood-alcohol level was .24 about two hours after the incident. He has no prior DWI-related convictions.
Cory Kochendorfer is an officer on the Saint Paul Police Department, and he was hired in October of 2005.
Statement from Chief Axtell regarding Officer Kochendorfer being charged:
““We are aware of the situation involving Officer Kochendorfer. We hold our officers to the highest personal and professional standards—both on duty and off—and I am disappointed one of our officers has put himself in a positon to be charged with a crime. As we have always done in these situations, we will follow the case closely and take appropriate action.”