Cop Fired for Not Reporting Journalist’s Drunk Driving

By Andrew Gauthier 

The Aspen Times

Valerie McFarlane‘s employment as an Aspen police officer ended last month after she failed to file charges against an Aspen newspaper editor for allegedly drinking and driving, officials said.

Instead, McFarlane, who was on work-related probation at the time, gave Aspen Daily News Editor Troy Hooper a ride to a residence on the outskirts of downtown during the early morning hours of Feb. 19.

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Prior to the encounter with McFarlane, Hooper, who covers cops and courts for the Daily News, had written two articles related to McFarlane’s September suspension. More…

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