Wash. police chief checks Blackberry, hits car

[March 27, 2009]  FEDERAL WAY, Wash. (AP) -- The police chief of the south Seattle suburb of Federal Way has issued a public apology for a minor traffic accident that happened while he was checking his BlackBerry in his unmarked police car.

The city summed it up Thursday in a news release that began "Federal Way Police Chief Brian Wilson is mortified." Apparently Wilson stopped for a red light on March 18 and glanced down at his BlackBerry to view newspaper headlines and e-mails. He then took his foot off the brake and collided with the car in front of him.

The Seattle Times reports no one was injured and the cars weren't damaged.

Still, City Manager Neal Beets gave Wilson a verbal reprimand.

The police chief says he takes full responsibility.

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Information from: The Seattle Times, http://www.seattletimes.com/

[Associated Press]

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