The chief trial deputy of the Pueblo district attorney's office will not be fired over his arrest in September for driving under the influence of alcohol.

District Attorney Bill Thiebaut announced Thursday that Karl Tameler was reprimanded for the incident. Thiebaut would not provide details of the disciplinary action imposed on Tameler.

"I have to weigh fully informing the public about the details of the discipline against the privacy of an employee disciplinary action as protected by law and county rules," Thiebaut said. "Personnel disciplinary actions are confidential and privileged and I have to respect the law and county rules."

The district attorney said the action taken against Tameler was harsh and "may be interpreted by some as greater than many officials would have imposed."

Thiebaut said unspecified conditions were attached to Tameler's continued employment at the district attorney's office and that Tameler accepted those conditions.

"This clearly was not Mr. Tameler's shining moment as a professional, but he accepted the disciplinary action and viewed it as an opportunity to improve his professional conduct," Thiebaut said. "It has been a humbling experience for him. This has been a role reversal for him. He now can relate firsthand to the feelings of an accused citizen."

Tameler, 41, was arrested in Aspen on Sept. 19 on suspicion of DUI. He also was cited for speeding. He was stopped after an Aspen police officer allegedly clocked the car Tameler was driving at 53 mph in a 25 mph zone. Tameler was in Aspen with a contingent from the local district attorney's office for a prosecutors' conference.

Tameler's blood-alcohol content at the time of his arrest was 0.151, according to the Aspen district attorney's office. Colorado's legal standard for drunkenness is 0.08.

According to a police report, Tameler allegedly tried to influence the arresting officer to treat him leniently because of his status as a prosecutor. However, Tameler was not charged with attempting to influence a public official.

Tameler's next court date in Pitkin County is scheduled Feb. 14, according to court records. It is tentatively set for disposition.

The outcome of the criminal case against Tameler in Pitkin County has no bearing on the internal actions taken by the district attorney's office here, Thiebaut said.

Also, Thiebaut said he is reorganizing the district attorney's office by adding a second chief trial deputy who will oversee prosecution of economic, juvenile, drug and property crimes. An announcement of which prosecutor will fill that role is expected soon.

Under the reorganization, Tameler, a 13-year veteran of the district attorney's office, will remain chief trial deputy. His duties will shift to oversee crimes against people and county court cases, including DUI prosecutions.

Thiebaut said he believes Tameler remains a capable prosecutor.

"I don't think (Tameler's) effectiveness as a prosecutor has been compromised by this mistake," Thiebaut said

Source: THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN