Drink-drive detective David Knopwood sacked by West Yorkshire Police
A top detective has been sacked for gross misconduct after admitting driving while twice the legal alcohol limit.
Det Ch Supt David Knopwood was banned from driving for 12 months and fined £1,000 at a hearing last month.
He failed a roadside breath test when he was stopped by officers in Knaresborough on 28 April. He admitted refusing to provide a further specimen.
West Yorkshire Police confirmed an officer had been sacked.
Det Supt Osman Khan said: "Following a recent conviction for drink driving, an officer was yesterday [Thursday] dismissed without notice for gross misconduct.
"West Yorkshire Police expects the highest standards of professionalism from all officers and staff and will take appropriate disciplinary action against anyone who fails to meet those standards."
Magistrates in Harrogate ordered Knopwood to pay £185 in costs and said his driving ban would be reduced by 12 weeks if he went on a drink-drive awareness course.
The court heard he drank two pints and then provided a roadside reading of 60 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
In mitigation, Knopwood's lawyer said the Wakefield-based officer had great responsibility at the force and was under a lot of stress.
The former detective was head of the unit responsible for the investigation of major crimes.
He wrote a report into the force's links with Jimmy Savile which found "no evidence" Savile was protected from arrest due to his ties with the force.