A man sworn to uphold the law was arrested over the weekend in western Iowa on suspicion of drunken driving. Missouri Valley Police Chief Ed Murray was taken into custody late Friday night in Pottawattamie County after sheriff’s officials received a report of a domestic disturbance occurring on Interstate 80 near Underwood.
When a deputy arrived, a women was walking away from Murray’s car. The 39-year Murray said the two had had an argument. As he spoke with the Deputy, Murray reportedly smelled of alcohol and had blood-shot eyes. When ordered out of car, Murray stumbled and admitted he drank some beers but would not answer any additional questions.
Inside the vehicle, the deputy found an open container of beer, and he was informed by Murray a gun could be found in the car’s console. It was at that point the he mentioned he was Missouri Valley’s police chief. Murray was booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail early Saturday, on suspicion of first-offense drunken driving and having an open container of alcohol in a car. He posted bond amounting to 22-hundred dollars, and later released.
Missouri Valley Mayor Randy McHugh says that he and the City Council would wait to see what happens in court before considering any disciplinary actions. Murray has been Missouri Valley police chief for two years. Before that, he was police chief in Onawa.