TPS Deputy Superintendent arrested for DUI

12/22/2017

BOWLING GREEN — The No. 2 administrator at Toledo Public Schools was placed on administrative leave Friday after he was arrested on drunken driving charges Thursday and spent the night in the Wood County jail.

Deputy Superintendent Brian A. Murphy “will remain on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation,” Jim Gault, executive transformational leader for the school district, said in a statement.

Mr. Murphy, 44, of Maumee was stopped by Toledo Police officers who were on their way to the Wood County jail just before 8 p.m. Thursday.

According to a Bowling Green Police report, police observed Mr. Murphy's Honda Pilot cross the marked lines and drive onto the median on the I-75 overpass on East Wooster Street in Bowling Green. After witnessing more unsafe driving, the crew pulled over Mr. Murphy and contacted Bowling Green police.

Mr. Murphy, who appeared confused to police, told officers he was coming from downtown Toledo and driving home to Maumee.

“I asked him how much he had to drink and he said a couple,” the report said. “I asked if he meant a couple beers or shots and he said, ‘a couple beers.’”

Mr. Murphy failed numerous field sobriety tests and refused to take a breath alcohol test resulting in an automatic administrative license suspension.

Bowling Green police said Mr. Murphy was irritated when they took him to the police station and did not want to sign a required form.

“When it came time for Murphy to sign again he became even more agitated and aggressive. He squared his body towards me and leaned in so that his face was only a few inches from me,” the report states. “He raised his voice and tensed his muscles. He then threw the stylus and said he was not signing and cursed.”

The officer said he handcuffed Mr. Murphy because of his aggressive behavior, and Mr. Murphy then “talked about how politics would happen. I reminded Murphy that he was being recorded and he said he didn't [care] because he knew what would happen. He continued to talk about everything he does for 'this community,' because of his job as Deputy Superintendent for Toledo Public Schools.”

The officer asked Mr. Murphy what town he was currently in, and he said, “Toledo.”

Mr. Murphy appeared by video Friday morning in Bowling Green Municipal Court before Magistrate Thomas McDermott, who scheduled an initial appearance with an attorney for Jan. 3.

He allowed Mr. Murphy to be released on a personal recognizance bond and allowed him to get his car from the impound lot if a licensed driver is with him.

Mr. Murphy could not be reached for comment.

In August, when two TPS administrators were suspended after one took a picture of the other's genitals at a work-related conference, Mr. Murphy told The Blade, “We hold our employees to high standards of professionalism. That includes whether you're in Toledo or you're at a professional development out of town, you are representing the district.”

According to TPS Spokesman Patty Mazur, Mr. Murphy was hired by the district Feb. 19, 1997, and was named deputy superintendent in 2016. He currently is paid $140,876 a year.

Contact Jennifer Feehan at: jfeehan@theblade.com or 419-213-2134.