A lesson that a drunk driving charge can result in much more than criminal penalties.

Bellevue police officer Andrew Hanke has resigned from his position in the Bellevue Police Department following a recent drunk driving charge, reports the Seattle Post Intelligencer. Hanke had pleaded not guilty to the charge earlier this week. However, the DUI charge and previous disciplinary action for rowdy behavior at a Seattle Seahawks game in 2012 may have proven too much for the police officer to save his job.

In November, Hanke was stopped by a fellow Bellevue police officer on Interstate 90. Hanke was subsequently charged with criminal drunk driving and he was immediately placed on administrative leave as the police department conducted its own internal investigation. Hanke chose to resign from the department before the department took official action. Hanke had been a member of the Bellevue Police Department since 2005.

You should note that Hanke resigned from his job despite pleading guilty to the charge and not being criminally convicted. This is an example of how a drunk driving charge can impact an individual's life outside of the criminal process. Employers can take action against suspected drunk drivers without having to wait for the criminal justice system to play itself out. So even if you are ultimately vindicated of the crime, you may suffer serious losses.

As a result, if you have been charged with drunk driving, it is important that you work with experienced counsel. A lawyer on your side can help explain to you both the criminal process and help minimize the impact of the DUI on your life. The sooner you work with an attorney, the sooner your attorney can begin working on your defense.

Schedule a consultation to discuss the specifics of your drunk driving charge with a lawyer at Wolff Criminal Defense by calling 425-284-2000.