NANCY A. FISCHER
Buffalo News

TOWN OF NIAGARA - An officer of Niagara Active Hose Company has been stripped of his responsibilities after being charged with driving while intoxicated Sunday while operating a fire company SUV with markings.

Robert E. Jasper Jr., 30, president of Niagara Active Hose, was charged with DWI just after 1 a.m., when the SUV struck a Toyota driven by a North Tonawanda woman at Niagara Falls Boulevard and Sy Road in Wheatfield.

Jasper, according Niagara County sheriff's deputies, said he had about six beers while golfing earlier in the day. His blood-alcohol content was 0.11 percent, which is above the legal limit, deputies added. Deputies said Jasper told them the North Tonawanda woman's 2009 Toyota pulled in front of him from Sy Road and he was unable to avoid hitting her. No traffic charges were lodged against either driver. A passenger in the Toyota suffered a minor neck injury, deputies said.

Damon DeCastro, attorney for the fire company, said Jasper, as president, has access to the vehicle and is on call full time.

"But he no longer has access, and he has been taken off of active duty," DeCastro said.

Jasper was arraigned Tuesday in Wheatfield Town Court and released after posting $250 bail. A return court date is scheduled for June 22.

DeCastro said company officials are waiting until court matters are wrapped up before they decide what to do about Jasper's status with the company.

He noted that Jasper has not been stripped of his role as president because that requires a hearing, but he is not able to respond to any fire calls or issue orders.

"I've never seen him so low," DeCastro added.

He said the volunteer company, with 50 members, is one of the busiest in Niagara County and the lone volunteer department in the Town of Niagara.

DeCastro called Jasper "very dedicated," with several years of service.

Meanwhile, Supervisor Steven C. Richards said he wants to know how the fire company is going to handle the case. The Town Board will meet in a work session at 7 p.m. tonight. Richards told The Buffalo News on Wednesday that this issue affects him personally because he lost his half brother, a teenager, to a drunken driver.

"There's no pity in me for drunk drivers," said Richards. "I want to know going forward what the fire company is going to do."

Richards said that although the town contracts with Niagara Active, it is up to the company to handle the case. But he said the company should have a better policy on the private use of its vehicles.

"Obviously a golfing tournament is not part of his official duties," said Richards, who called Jasper's actions an embarrasment to the town.

DeCastro said the department does have such policies,

"Nobody is supposed to drive a fire department vehicle while intoxicated, but will he be banned for life?" DeCastro asked. "There certainly is potential. But [noting his years of service and dedication] there are mitigating factors, and they may remove him for a specific time period. The fire company certainly does not condone his activities."

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June 10, 2010