Butler assistant police chief can drive for work after DUI arrest

A judge is allowing Butler University’s assistant police chief to drive for work while his drunken driving case is pending, court records show.

The state suspended the driver’s license of Andrew Ryan after the 52-year-old law enforcement officer was arrested on a drunken driving charge, as is customary in such cases.

Ryan, though, told the court in a petition that he needs to drive to perform his job at Butler, as well as fulfill his role as an instructor at the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Academy.

He faces two misdemeanor counts of driving while intoxicated after he was arrested earlier this month.

Butler University briefly placed Ryan on administrative leave, but he is now back to work as assistant chief.

Marion Superior Court Judge David Certo during a hearing Wednesday granted Ryan permission to drive for the purpose of work.

The petition for special driving privileges said Ryan is enrolled in alcohol counseling and would accept restrictions barring him from driving for other purposes.

An IMPD report said Ryan registered a blood-alcohol content of 0.27 after he collided with another driver Sept. 5 on the Eastside.

Ryan will appear in court again for a hearing on Oct. 28.

Call Star reporter Madeline Buckley at (317) 444-6083. Follow her on Twitter: @Mabuckley88.