Louis J Sheehan 654359

Former top cop with state police charged in DUI
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
BY MATTHEW KEMENY
Of The Patriot-News

During Memorial Day weekend 1996, then-state police Commissioner Paul J. Evanko presided over what at the time was the largest one-day DUI sweep in the force's history. A total of 272 motorists were arrested.

Eleven years later, Evanko finds himself on the other side of the steering wheel.

The 60-year-old Susquehanna Twp. resident, who served two terms as commissioner, from 1995 to 2003, was arrested Friday night in Lower Paxton Twp. by officers responding to a minor accident at Linglestown and North Mountain roads.

Police said Evanko was driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.183 percent, which is more than twice the limit of 0.08 percent at which a driver is considered to be drunk.

Evanko -- he's a noted anti-drunken driving crusader who in 1996 said "drunk drivers are fatalities waiting to happen" -- could not be reached for comment Tuesday. It was not known whether he had an attorney.

"I was almost speechless when I heard the news, especially when I heard the high BAC," Rebecca Shaver, executive director of the state's Mothers Against Drunk Driving chapter, said.

"We're saddened with all DUI arrests, but when it comes from someone that held such respect and responsibility, and who was setting examples on the dangers of drunk driving, it makes us especially sad," Shaver said.

Evanko often spoke at MADD's community awareness programs, including the popular Project Red Ribbon campaign, Shaver said. He coordinated statewide sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols.

Equally shocked was Pennsylvania DUI Association executive director C. Stephen Erni, who worked closely with Evanko while he was commissioner.


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"Since I have the utmost respect and admiration for the work he's done while with the Pennsylvania State Police, this situation is very upsetting to me," Erni said.

During his eight years as head of the state police, Evanko secured federal funding to increase the number of sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols aimed at nabbing drunk drivers. He also supervised the purchasing of 17 portable blood-alcohol testers, each of which cost about $2,000, to allow troopers to test a driver's BAC level at the scene.

In addition to his other responsibilities, Evanko found time in his schedule to work on DUI enforcement, Erni said.

"All through his actions, he was absolutely genuine," he said.

Evanko, formerly of Lower Paxton Twp., was appointed Pennsylvania's 17th state police commissioner on Feb. 15, 1995 by Gov. Tom Ridge. Prior to his appointment, Evanko was director of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and had been with the state police since 1970.

Evanko was released shortly after Friday's incident. He will receive a summons on the charges through Magisterial District Judge William C. Wenner's office, court officials said. A preliminary hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Cpl. Linette Quinn, of the state police public information office, said current State Police Commissioner Jeffrey Miller would have no comment on Evanko's arrest.

MATTHEW KEMENY: 255-8271 or mkemeny@patriot-news.com






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