Trooper convicted of OVI reinstated following patrol agreement

MONTGOMERY COUNTY — Trooper David Shockey has been reinstated to his position as a trooper after entering into a grievance settlement agreement with the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Shockey changed his plea to no contest on an OVI charge for an off-duty crash last year.

Shockey was reinstated Tuesday, according to records obtained by News Center 7.

[ >> Fired Dayton state trooper says he was in ‘alcohol rehab’ prior to suspected OVI crash ]

Shockey was fired on Dec. 20 for conduct unbecoming of an officer. He had appealed his firing and an arbitration hearing had been scheduled for Mar. 19, but was delayed due to coronavirus.

Shockey, 44, was charged with OVI following a crash on July 23 outside Sparky’s Lounge. He was sentenced to a 6-month license suspension and 180 days in jail; however the jail time was suspended, court records show. That means Shockey will not have to serve time in the county jail unless he violates his probation. He also was ordered to attend a 72-hour alcohol program.

The sentence was handed down on Dec. 30, however Judge Robert Rettich III sealed the records in the case, preventing public access to the sentencing information and plea change until today.

“The court finds that the Defendant is a law enforcement officer, with an appeal pending with the Ohio State Highway Patrol regarding his employment,” Rettich wrote in his order to seal Shockey’s case the same day of his sentencing and plea change. “Given the nature of this offense, for the protection of the parties, and to avoid any potential security issues, this Court finds that the need to seal access to this case outweighs the need for public access to the case.”

According to the state patrol agreement, Shockey’s firing will be amended to a 190 day suspension and he will not receive back pay for the time he was terminated from Dec. 20 to Apr. 7.

He also must abide by a last chance agreement for five years, which will require Shockey to complete a substance abuse program. Shockey also will have to submit to random drug and alcohol screening for the length of the last chance agreement.

The agreement also states that Shockey can enter a post transfer request immediately, however he will not be permitted to transfer to the Dayton post for five years.

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