Everyone makes mistakes, even those who promise to protect and serve. Recently, a former South Carolina police chief was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving.

The incident happened on Jan. 31. That evening, the former police chief was pulled over and arrested by the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

In South Carolina, when someone is found guilty of DUI, they can face extremely harsh punishments. They may face as many as 90 days behind bars and loss of driver's license. In addition, they can face fines and higher insurance rates.

Despite the man's former role as a police chief, he is not immune to criminal charges. Someone in his situation would likely benefit from working with an attorney who has experience defending someone against DUI charges. Although the man may have made a mistake, with the right person working on his behalf, he may not face such harsh penalties.

In addition to fighting the charges, an attorney can also investigate every aspect of the case to be sure law enforcement acted appropriately. Although people assume that law enforcement will act responsibly, that is not always the case. If the attorney finds that authorities did not follow proper protocol, the charges may be reduced or dropped completely. Everyone has rights, and when those rights are violated, law enforcement should be held responsible.

While people may assume that a person who has been charged with a crime is guilty, it is important to remember that everyone remains innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. The same goes for the man in this specific case.

Source: WJBF, "Former McCormick Police Chief Facing DUI Charge," Randy Key, Feb. 1, 2012