FREDERICK, Md. — A Frederick police officer must perform 48 hours of community service for crashing his patrol car while driving drunk off duty.

Fifty-five-year-old Robert Pierce was sentenced Friday in Frederick County Circuit Court. He was granted probation before judgment, meaning his conviction for driving while impaired by alcohol will be expunged if he successfully completes his sentence and two years of probation.

The 11-year officer pleaded guilty to the charge in August.

He was arrested and suspended from duty in March after his car hit a guardrail on U.S. 15.

A charge of leaving the scene of an accident was dropped under a plea agreement.

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