Former police chief arrested in DWI

By Domingo Ramirez Jr.
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS -- Retired police Chief Tom Shockley was arrested Wednesday morning after he failed field sobriety tests following a minor traffic accident, police said.

Shockley, 54, who retired last week, was taken into custody shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday, after his 2000 Lincoln Town car hit a 2000 Ford F-150 pickup on Davis Boulevard. Neither Shockley nor the pickup driver, a 32-year-old Fort Worth man -- was injured.

Shockley stayed in jail for more than three hours before he was released Wednesday afternoon on a $500 appearance bond.]

"He's embarrassed," said Don Carter of Fort Worth, Shockley's attorney. "It was a minor fender-bender. I believe damage was less than $500. He was released to my custody, and I took him home. We'll start our investigation into this case."

Carter declined to allow Shockley to comment.

Officers said they believe a drug other than alcohol may have been involved, North Richland Hills police Sgt. Ken Bounds said. A drug recognition expert from Euless was assisting in the investigation.

The accident was reported at 9:36 a.m. Wednesday at Davis Boulevard and Rumfield Road.

The pickup was stopped at a red light in the northbound lane on Davis Boulevard when Shockley's car clipped it, according to police reports.

Shockley and the other driver drove to a nearby parking lot and waited for police officers, the reports state.

"When the officers arrived, there was reason to believe that he (Shockley) was intoxicated," Bounds said.

Shockley failed sobriety tests and was arrested at the scene, police said. He was booked into jail a few minutes later, police said.

Shockley retired Jan. 5, nearly a month after he was suspended without pay for erratic driving.

A North Richland Hills police officer had reported that Shockley's car nearly hit his patrol car Dec. 6.

Shockley was suspended Dec. 8-10 after that incident.

In a Dec. 9 memo to Shockley, City Manager Larry Cunningham wrote that Shockley was suspended not only for driving while impaired on pain medication, but also for providing misleading information during Cunningham's inquiry into the incident.

In an interview at the time, Shockley said the incident happened because he had taken a muscle relaxant called Soma on an empty stomach.

Assistant Police Chief John Lynn was appointed acting chief.

Domingo Ramirez Jr., (817) 685-3822
ramirez@star-telegram.com

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