On May 26, 2023, Officer Brittany Coffman, a 13-year veteran of the Terre Haute Police Department, was involved in a traffic stop during which her speech appeared slurred. Supervisors on-site observed similar behavior. Subsequent testing revealed the presence of benzodiazepines in her system. Coffman admitted to having a prescription for Xanax. She was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a misdemeanor. Following the incident, Coffman was placed on paid leave. On August 18, 2023, the Terre Haute Police Merit Commission suspended her without pay. Chief Shawn Keen recommended her termination, citing the department’s zero-tolerance policy for such offenses. The Merit Commission planned to revisit her employment status on December 18, 2023. ([tribstar.com](https://www.tribstar.com/news/local_news/merit-board-suspends-terre-haute-police-officer-without-pay-after-owi-charge/article_021c6404-37b1-11ee-a59e-87ed186a5d61.html?utm_source=openai))