LAPD Rookie's DUI Tragedy Reignites Scrutiny Over Alcohol Abuse Within Ranks
Paul Riverbank, 1/11/2025A tragic incident involving an LAPD officer striking and killing a bicyclist while allegedly driving under the influence has reignited discussions on the department's handling of alcohol-related offenses among its ranks.
A rookie Los Angeles Police Department officer, Aaron Kleibacker, found himself on the wrong side of the law when he allegedly struck and killed a bicyclist while driving under the influence on Christmas Eve in Ontario. The tragic incident has once again cast a spotlight on the persistent issue of alcohol-related offenses within the LAPD, an issue that has long plagued the department.
According to Corp. Eliseo Guerrero, spokesperson for the Ontario Police Department, the 39-year-old Kleibacker was driving southbound on Bon View Avenue when his vehicle collided with Fabio Cebreros, a 38-year-old Chino resident, around 7:37 p.m. on December 24th. In a shocking turn of events, Kleibacker initially fled the scene, only to return later. When subjected to a sobriety test, he was found to be above the legal limit, Guerrero said, adding that Kleibacker was cooperative throughout the investigation.
"That particular stretch of Bon View, a two-lane road with relatively little traffic, hasn't been a problem in the past," Guerrero remarked, underscoring the unexpected nature of the tragedy.
Cebreros was rushed to a nearby hospital, but tragically succumbed to his injuries, leaving behind a grieving family and a community in shock. Kleibacker, meanwhile, was booked into the West Valley Detention Center on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and released on Christmas Day, with charges pending.
The incident has reignited discussions surrounding the LAPD's handling of alcohol-related offenses involving its officers. In April, an off-duty lieutenant, Matthew Ensley, who had ironically posted anti-drunk-driving messages online, was charged with felony DUI in connection with a crash on the 605 Freeway that injured at least one person. Ensley allegedly had a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit at the time of his arrest.
The Police Commission, the civilian oversight body, has previously weighed in on the issue, voting to tighten the department's alcohol policy and lowering the acceptable blood-alcohol level for an off-duty, armed officer to 0.04% in certain situations. This move came in response to a 2021 Los Angeles Times report that suggested the department had failed to develop clear policies despite multiple cases in recent years involving off-duty, armed officers causing trouble, breaking laws, and even shooting people while intoxicated.
As the investigation into Kleibacker's case continues, the LAPD finds itself facing renewed scrutiny over its handling of alcohol-related incidents involving its officers. The department's commitment to upholding the law and maintaining public trust will undoubtedly be put to the test as it grapples with this latest tragedy and the broader issue of alcohol abuse within its ranks.
