Red Bank Police Chief Tim Christol

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The Red Bank Police Department is launching an internal affairs investigation to determine whether a police officer and a sergeant gave preferential treatment to another government employee who was pulled over on suspicion of driving drunk.

Red Bank Police Chief Tim Christol was sent an anonymous email from a "concerned citizen" Monday detailing allegations that a police officer pulled over a woman who he determined was too intoxicated to drive.

The email further stated that a Red Bank police sergeant told the officer not to arrest her because she was affiliated with Hamilton County government.

Christol said Monday he had heard no report of the incident before the email, and he said he could not confirm whether it occurred.

"With any citizen complaint we'll initiate an investigation to determine if this happened, what the circumstances around it were, and who was involved," Christol said Monday.

Christol said he could not yet release the officers' names because he had "nothing to go on but the email at this point."

"We'll expedite the investigation because this is a very strong allegation of inappropriate conduct," he said. "We're not going to tolerate drunk driving."

Contact staff writer Kate Harrison at kharrison@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6673.