Cop shows up drunk for his Mothers Against Drunk Driving award

A Florida deputy was too drunk on whiskey to receive an award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving. A Florida deputy was too drunk on whiskey to receive an award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Photo: Casey McNerthney/seattlepi.com Photo: Casey McNerthney/seattlepi.com Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Cop shows up drunk for his Mothers Against Drunk Driving award 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A Florida deputy who was being honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving was too drunk to pick up his award at a banquet last summer, according to a new Pinellas County Sheriff's Office investigation.

WFLA reported Thursday that the 274-page internal affairs investigation found that

Michael Szeliga packed a bottle of Jameson Irish whiskey in his patrol car before driving to the Hyatt Regency Pier 66 Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, where he and two fellow officers were to attend two days of DUI law enforcement training.

MADD was to give Szeliga an award for making more than 100 DUI arrests, but when he arrived for Friday night banquet, he was in no shape to mount the podium in front of 200 invited guests. A witness described him as staggeringly drunk, according to the investigation.

Flagged by Gulfport Police Chief Robert Vincent, who told Szeliga's supervisor that his deputy was "wasted," Szeliga was ordered back to room without receiving his award.

The investigation found that:

— Szeliga and two other deputies attended the morning session of the mandatory DUI enforcement training, but left after the first break for a few whiskey and Cokes before heading to the pool. Szeliga said one of the other deputies had brought a bottle of Crown Royal.

— The deputies went swimming. Szeliga played the "cornhole" bean bag game while downing Jameson cocktails.

— Szeliga and his deputy roommate were dressing for the banquet when a fire alarm sounded. A Pasco County sergeant reportedly saw Szeliga in the hotel hallway wearing "nothing but boxer shorts." He told Szeliga's supervisor, "He was pretty drunk when I saw him."

Szeliga given a one-day paid suspension. He now works as a detective in the sheriff's crimes against children unit.