Police officer on leave after OWI bust

A Grafton police officer has been placed on administrative leave after being cited for operating a vehicle while intoxicated after he crashed his vehicle into a retention pond in the Village of Grafton.

At 12:26 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, officers were called to Balsam Court and Walnut Circle for a report of a single-vehicle accident. When officers arrived, they saw a black 2010 Ford partially submerged in a retention pond at the northeast corner of the intersection and several trees severely damaged.

When the responding officers realized the driver was Grafton Police Officer Tylor Taubenheim, they requested the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office conduct the investigation to avoid a conflict of interest, according to a press release from the Grafton Police Department. 

“We recognized this was going to be one of those situations that would be under public scrutiny,” Grafton Police Chief Jeff Caponera told Ozaukee Press. 

Taubenheim was off-duty when the crash occurred, according to the press release.

Deputies discovered Taubenheim sitting on the sidewalk and noted his clothes were wet from the waist down. They determined Taubenheim was intoxicated and arrested him for suspicion of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. 

According to a Sheriff’s Office incident report, Taubenheim stated he was out with a couple of friends and had three beers at Sahale Ale Works in Grafton before going to Rebellion Brewery in Cedarburg, where he had “an unknown amount of whiskey old fashions.”

Taubenheim also said he had at least two cherry bomb shots but did not know the exact amount, the report stated.

Results from a preliminary breath test showed Taubenheim had a blood alcohol level of .188, more than twice the legal limit.

Caponera said the Sheriff’s Office is handling the investigation, while the Grafton Police Department conducts an investigation regarding violations of internal rules and policies.

Caponera said Taubenheim has been placed on paid administrative leave but would not elaborate on any other disciplinary action.  

“There definitely will be some discipline that will be handed down. Because it is a personnel matter, I’m not at liberty to discuss what that is going to be,” Caponera said, noting the Police and Fire Commission could weigh in if Taubenheim has a grievance with his punishment. 

The Washington County District Attorney’s Office has been assigned as a special prosecutor to avoid any potential conflict of interest. 

Taubenheim has been an officer with the Grafton Police Department for more than one  year.

“Officers have a due process, and we as an organization must be sensitive to that,” Caponera said.