Officer wrecks squad car 29 minutes into job

[July 16, 2008]  HOBART, Ind. (AP) -- Police officer Tim Pochron's first day on the job went poorly: Less than a half-hour into it, his squad car was wrecked in a crash.

Pochron was inside his house at 12:29 a.m. Monday when someone hit his new squad car parked outside, as well as a tree, police said.

"Pochron was 29 minutes into the first day of his new job when his parked squad car was struck," Lt. Steve Houck said.

The driver tested positive for drugs, was arrested and taken to a hospital, police said.

Pochron, 26, was sworn in last week. He was supposed to work the morning shift Monday. Instead, he spent the morning filling out paperwork at the police station.

The force of the crash bent the rear axle of the squad car. Deputy Chief Jeff White said the car can be repaired, though he's not sure how much it will cost.

Pochron "was just heartbroken," White said.

[Associated Press]

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