On the night of April 17, 2025, Lorain Police Sgt. Eric Rivera crashed his department-issued cruiser while off duty, striking two parked vehicles and a shed near West 9th Street and Long Avenue before driving home and contacting command staff.
According to internal reports, patrol supervisors who responded to Rivera’s residence observed heavy front-end damage to the city vehicle and arranged for towing. Rivera was transported to Mercy Hospital for an occupational-health screening, where two breath tests were recorded at 0.138 and 0.131. In his written statement, Rivera said he had consumed “several alcoholic beverages” after arriving home but before officers arrived.
The department’s Office of Professional Standards opened an internal-affairs investigation on April 21 and assigned the case number IA-25-13. Investigators sustained multiple violations, including gross misconduct, ethics and professional behavior, vehicle use, and care of property.
In May, department leadership imposed discipline: Rivera was demoted from sergeant to patrol officer and ordered to pay $15,691 in restitution for damage caused by the crash. He was placed on paid administrative leave on April 21 with instructions not to enter police facilities or operate city vehicles until further notice.
The internal report notes that a related criminal matter remained pending at the time of completion but lists no criminal charges by name. Rivera continues to serve in a restricted capacity while the review process remains open.
Independent local journalist Aaron Knapp, writing on his Substack Lorain Politics Unplugged, first published excerpts from the internal report and raised questions about transparency in the department’s handling of the case. Lorain Daily reviewed the same records for this report.
City officials have not released further comment, citing the continuing review.