DWP Supervisor Arrested for DUI After Allegedly Swigging Vodka in City Truck, Crashing Into Parked Cars

By Simone Wilson Wed., May 2 2012 at 9:15 AM

Categories: DWP

Miguel Ospital via CBS LA

Fun on the job.

Isaac Chavez, a supervisor at the L.A. Department of Water and Power, was arrested on April 25 in Van Nuys for drinking and driving on the job.

But unlike those other DWP deadbeats famously arrested for drinking, driving and strip-clubbing two years ago, Chavez didn't bother to wrap his beer in paper towels, a witness tells CBS LA. The witness, Miguel Ospital, reportedly "took a picture of a police officer holding two open bottles [of] vodka, allegedly taken from Chavez's vehicle, while he was on duty, earning your taxpayer money."

And these aren't working-class wages we're talking about. Did you know...

... that L.A. DWP supervisors make between $100,000 and $200,000 a year, depending on seniority/overtime/etc.? Overall, DWP employees are the highest-paid in the city -- possibly even the nation -- "earning on average 40 percent more than other municipal workers, even those with identical job titles," according to Bloomberg News. (Shout-out to the bulldogs at IBEW Local 18!)

Now taxpayers will be footing the bill for Chavez' banged-up city truck, as well. According to CBS, the DWP supervisor hit two parked cars and a camper before coming to a stop.

But it could have been worse: He was reportedly about to rage through a crosswalk before the parked cars, uh, got in his way.

We called the DWP for more on Chavez, and a public-information officer promised to call us back. For now, here's the department's public statement: "We take these matters very seriously. We are conducting a full investigation into this matter and will take appropriate action when the investigation is complete." CBS adds that Chavez is on "unpaid administrative leave."

Maybe look for less sloppy candidates from the get-go, considering they're making three times your average schoolteacher?

[@simone_electra / swilson@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

Tags:

drinking and driving, DUI, DWP, Isaac Chavez

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Jinkytoes

wes you are 100% correct and dwp workers get paid good money because they are some of the best at what they do. they are not all drunks i've seen them work and they do an excellent job.

Yz450fyamaha

Yes the dept gives the city nearly three hundred million dollars a year, 5% of power revenues, 5% of water revenues. The city does not want you to know that. Yes LAPD and LAFD are inderectly funded by LADWP, although they don't like to admit it, let's put it this way, with the city in hundreds of millions of debt, who's paying the bills? DWP makes 6 billlion yes with a B 6 billion a year, it doesn't need a dollar of tax money. You don't know what talking about anyway!

Yz450fyamaha

Another thing LAFD and LAPD have tried in the past suing DWP to raid Water and Power's retirement account due to FD's and PD's mishandling of their retirements, didn't work federal judge struck down the lawsuit !

Rupert Pupkin-Murdoch IV

Typical public-union-busting baloney from corporatist "libertarian" Lacey's bullshit parody-of-what-used-to-be-alternative weekly.

Wes

The Department of Water and Power employees and supervisors are not paid at all from any taxpayer dollars. They are paid from utility revenue. The DWP acutally pays the city of Los Angeles over $200,000,000.00 every year. They also contribute to LAPD and LAFD.

So this incident will not come out of any taxpayer's pockets.

Also, alcoholism is not a DWP issue. It is a global issue that plagues countless companies, cities, states, and countries.

intheknow

Sorry Wes, DWP does not contribute to LARD nor LAFD & many of them have been suspended for no drivers license to to DUI convictions, so is there a drinking problem?

We Take This Seriously!

After he is put on paid administrative leave, counseled that trucks+vodka do not mix, reinstated at full pay and w/o loss of position, and after we all pay for his leave and the damages, who gets the vodka?

Wes

You should read a little closer:

- CBS adds that Chavez is on "UNpaid administrative leave."