We’re not sure what it was about 2008, but at least three police officers in the great state of Louisiana were charged with DWI. Additionally, in all three of these incidents, they were accused of driving under the influence while off-duty and behind the wheels of their respective police units.

The first of these occurrences took place when the year was hardly a few hours old. You remember East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Douglas Michael Thomas, who had a blood-alcohol content more than twice the legal limit? We featured him in our February 2008 BACS.

He was arrested for DWI after reportedly crashing his cruiser into a pole at the corner of Jones Creek and Tiger Bend roads early on New Year’s Day. He resigned from the force 24 hours later.

The next one was covered in last month’s BACS. Sgt. Edward Coulter, a 22-year veteran with the Baton Rouge Police Department, blew a 0.11 blood-alcohol level after crashing his police unit into another vehicle on Choctaw Drive a couple of days before Halloween. The legal limit is 0.08.

Coulter provided significantly more drama after the incident than Thomas did after his. The sergeant took over a month and a half to announce his retirement from BRPD.

Finally, we close out 2008 with 32-year-old Michael Welch of the Shreveport Police Department. He was charged with first-offense DWI with only four days remaining in the year. North Louisiana, represent!

The charge stems from an incident that occurred in the 6200 block of Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, which happens to be where Welch resides. Shreveport police received a complaint from a concerned citizen regarding a marked patrol car being operated in a careless manner at approximately 3:30 a.m. on December 27.

Officers were dispatched immediately to the area. They reportedly found Welch asleep behind the wheel of his police cruiser with the engine still running.

Welch must have left the motor running for the heat. It can get bone-chillingly frigid on the frozen tundra of Caddo Parish.

After a brief investigation, Welch, a three-year veteran assigned to the Uniformed Services Division, was booked into the Shreveport City jail and later released on a $1,086 bond. He was subsequently placed on administrative leave by Chief Henry Whitehorn pending an internal investigation.

As for why Welch was napping in his patrol car, perhaps he was trying to sleep off a wicked buzz and couldn’t navigate the walk to his front door. In any event, he’s the first person in the history of the BACS to get arrested for boozin’ & cruisin’ & snoozin’.

Why did these three men sworn to uphold the law drive their police vehicles while impaired? Maybe they did it because they thought they were above the law. Maybe they were desperate to relieve some stress. Maybe they wanted to become better police officers and learn to think like criminals by developing more empathy for the drunk drivers they arrest.

Alas, we may never know their true motivations. We hope 2009 will provide more enlightenment into this phenomenon.

We also hope that our BACS contestants, like most people, will resolve to improve their lives this year. To that end, we’ve suggested a New Year’s resolution for each of this month’s top ten drunk drivers. Of course, we’ve tried to keep the resolutions realistic and, therefore, attainable. If you’re not ready for the 12 steps, at least try baby steps.

Our top ten contestants were arrested and booked for suspicion of driving while intoxicated according to The Advocate reports from November 24 – December 21, 2008.

10. Natasha Michele D., 29, 1st-offense DWI, aggravated criminal damage to property, hit and run, reckless operation of a vehicle, child restraints required, and driving with a suspended/revoked license.

Natasha Michele’s resolution should be to ensure that her kids are properly restrained while she’s providing a poor example for them. There’s no use in emotionally scarring your children if they aren’t able to live through the experience.

9. Juan Diaz, 33, 1st-offense DWI, possession of cocaine, reckless operation of a vehicle, improper lane usage, and driving without a license.

Friends say Juan should really cut back on his cocaine usage. We suggest he resolve himself to snort blow only on days that end with a “Y.”

8. Arthur Darryll H., 45, 1st-offense DWI, open-container violation, expired inspection sticker, possession of marijuana, and possession of a firearm with a controlled dangerous substance.

Sharing is caring. Arthur should resolve to be a little less protective of his stash and not cap people when they ask for a pull.

7. Brian Lee M., 27, 2nd-offense DWI, careless driving, simple battery, and disturbing the peace via fistic encounter.

For his sexual partners’ sake, we implore Brian Lee to resolve to employ copious amounts of lube in all future fistic encounters.

6. Melanie C., 25, 2nd-offense DWI, obstruction of a public highway, equipment violation, driving without a license, and possession of marijuana.

In order to avoid another obstruction of a public highway charge, Melanie ought to resolve to pull over to the side of the road before stopping to roll a blunt.

5. Pamela Corley B., 40, 3rd-offense DWI, improper lane usage, and driving with a suspended/revoked license.

Since we’re in the midst of cold and flu season, Pamela Corley’s resolution is to drink no more than half a bottle of NyQuil at one sitting. You never know when the kids will need some.

4. Paulan V., 56, 4th-offense DWI, failure to yield right of way, and insurance required.

In an effort to help stimulate the economy, Paulan ought to resolve to drink once a week something more expensive than Ripple. Oh, and driving with insurance would be cool, too.

3. Edward Robert S., 26, 4th-offense DWI, reckless operation of a vehicle, and obstruction of a public highway.

We know that being single can get lonely from time to time, but Edward Robert should resolve to bring a girl home with the help of GHB no more than three times a month.

2. Karl Saever W., 24, 4th-offense DWI, aggravated obstruction of a highway, and reckless operation of a vehicle.

At his current rate of alcohol consumption, we strongly suggest that Karl Saever resolve to do whatever it takes to get on a liver transplant recipient list.

1. David H., 39, 5th-offense DWI, open-container violation, driving with an expired inspection sticker, and failure to maintain control of a vehicle.

David’s New Year’s resolution is to get better organized. He should start by putting his attorney’s cell phone number on speed dial.