Dover Police officer charged with DUI; had child in car, authorities say

A Dover Police officer was found passed out in the driver's seat at an intersection Thursday for "several light cycles," according to the department.

As the car moved slowly toward the intersection, he and the his young child were able to be removed and a witness parked the car, until officers arrived, Dover Police said. 

Initially, police responded to a hit and run accident in the parking lot of McGlynn's at 800 North DuPont Highway at 4:10 p.m., Master Cpl. Mark Hoffman said. They ran a computer check on the suspect's registration, which traced back to Keith Boris, 26, an officer of the Dover Police Department. 

Officers made several attempts to contact Boris for more than three hours, Hoffman said. 

At 6:55 p.m., officers finally found Boris when responding to a call that a man was passed out in a car at the intersection of South Bay Road and Transportation Boulevard, police said. 

Three witnesses collectively called 911, removed him and his daughter, and moved the car to a strip mall parking lot, court documents said. One secured Boris in the back of her car until officers arrived on scene. One witness said they could smell alcohol on Boris's breath, the police report said. 

Hoffman said Boris picked up his daughter from day care shortly after leaving McGlynn's. She was unharmed and given to her mother. 

Boris was arrested and brought to the station for blood work, Hoffman said. The Delaware Deputy Attorney General's Office of Kent County was also informed, and the department opened an internal investigation. Hoffman said Boris was not charged until the next day, after police gathered more information and consulted with the the state Attorney General's office. 

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Boris turned himself over to Dover police Friday and was charged with driving under the influence, endangering the welfare of a child, and inattentive driving. 

The one-year officer of the Dover Police Department was released on unsecured bond and placed on administrative leave without pay, Hoffman said. 

Police Chief Marvin Mailey said in a statement he was grateful no one was harmed due to Boris's reckless actions. 

"To say that I am disappointed in this incident is an understatement," Mailey said. "This incident falls far short of the standard we expect from the employees of the Dover Police Department. We will continue to address this matter with the seriousness it deserves and be as transparent as allowed by Delaware law with the ongoing investigation."

Hoffman said police are investigating the matter further. 

Contact Josephine Peterson at (302) 324-2856 or jhpeterson@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @jopeterson93.