You’d Think a CPS Supervisor Would Know Better
On Saturday, March 3rd, an employee of Children’s Protective Services, Paula Lipinski, was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, resisting arrest, and assaulting a police officer. Lipinski is a CPS supervisor and scheduled to be on call at the time. CPS employees are not allowed to consume alcohol while on call.
The incident began at Kilkenny’s Irish Pub in Traverse City. An intoxicated Lipinski left the bar and attempted to drive away as a security guard physically blocked the vehicle’s path. Officers were called when Lipinski got out of her car and started to walk away.
Lipinski did not cooperate with the police. She swore at the officers and attempted to run. Then she resisted, kicking the arresting officer in the shin multiple times.
After her arrest, Lipinski refused a breath test and was taken to a nearby hospital for a blood draw. More than 3 hours later, Lipinski finally agreed to the breath test. With a blood alcohol content of 0.158%, she was at almost twice the legal limit.
No doubt Ms. Lipinski will pay, one way or another, for this tangle with the law. She could lose her job, standing in the community, and even end up with jail time. The good news? This personal “mistake” by Ms. Lipinski will probably only affect her. The bad news? CPS workers make mistakes all the time where the results are turmoil, lengthy court battles, and families torn apart.
Shouldn’t there be a Higher Standard for CPS?
We can and should expect more from those in public service. That includes Children’s Protective Services workers and supervisors. We should expect CPS workers to do their jobs, not be out drinking on the job. We should expect CPS to thoroughly investigate claims of child abuse or neglect, not just knee-jerk and yank children from the arms of loving parents. We should expect accountability for public servants. And we should get it.
If your family is dealing with a CPS investigation, we can help. The attorneys at Cronkright Law are parent advocates. We are here to fight for you and your family. Call us today.