Brooklyn Park mayor apologizes for DWI arrest

Last update: May 5, 2008 - 11:17 PM

Brooklyn Park Mayor Steve Lampi said Monday that he hopes to move forward after publicly apologizing for a drunken-driving arrest.

He made a public statement at last week's City Council meeting acknowledging the April 20 arrest and said he was "embarrassed by my bad judgment and humiliated by the outcome."

"I think I owed that to the council and the citizens of Brooklyn Park," Lampi, 54, said in an interview Monday. "I thought it was important that they hear it from me."

About 7:15 p.m. on April 20, an observer called in, saying he was following a suspected hit-and-run driver. Law enforcement officers located the suspect, who was later determined to be Lampi, according to the incident report. A breath test determined that he had a 0.15 percent blood alcohol concentration, the report said. He faces property damage hit-and-run and two fourth-degree drunken-driving charges.

In Lampi's apology before the City Council, he said he had been at home "having a few drinks" and left the house after he noticed his dog had gotten out.

He said he hasn't heard from any citizens who are concerned about the arrest. "I think that I'm addressing this in a responsible fashion," he said. "That's all I can do."

Lampi's position as mayor is not jeopardized by the incident. Elected officials can be removed from office only if they commit a felony. Lampi was elected to four-year terms as mayor in 2002 and 2006.

LORA PABST

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