IN PRISON. HE WAS ORIGINALLY FACING 15 YEARS. A BIZARRE STORY OUT OF CENTRAL FLORIDA. TITUSVILLE POLICE OFFICERS RESPONDING TO A CRASH ONLY TO FIND THEIR CHIEF OF POLICE IN THE FRONT SEAT WITH A LARGE BOTTLE OF VODKA. TAKE A LOOK. THE QUESTION IS THAT OPEN OR CLOSED? WHAT? THE BOTTLE. THE BOTTLES? WELL, ITS BEEN DRANK OUT OF. CHIEF JOHN LAW WAS ACCUSED OF CRASHING THE CITY OWNED SUV TUESDAY NIGHT WHILE HE WAS OFF DUTY. HE REFUSED ALCOHOL TESTING, BUT A SERGEANT WROTE IN HIS CASE REPORT THAT HE COULD IMMEDIATELY SMELL THE ALCOHOL. AFTER THE CHIEF WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL. HE WAS FIRED. FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL TOOK OVER THE INVESTIGA
Florida police chief found at scene of a crash with bottle of Vodka
Updated: 6:25 AM EDT Jun 27, 2026
Titusville police officers responded to a crash Tuesday night and found their chief of police, John Lau, in the front seat of a city-owned SUV with a large bottle of vodka. “Is that open or closed?” an officer asked. “What? The bottle. Well, it’s been drank out of,” Lau said. Lau was accused of crashing the vehicle while off duty. He refused alcohol testing, but a sergeant wrote in his case report that he could immediately smell alcohol. After Lau was released from the hospital, he was fired from his position as police chief. The Florida Highway Patrol took over the investigation and determined that no criminal charges would be filed. It is not clear why.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
TITUSVILLE, Fla. —
Titusville police officers responded to a crash Tuesday night and found their chief of police, John Lau, in the front seat of a city-owned SUV with a large bottle of vodka.
“Is that open or closed?” an officer asked. “What? The bottle. Well, it’s been drank out of,” Lau said.
Lau was accused of crashing the vehicle while off duty. He refused alcohol testing, but a sergeant wrote in his case report that he could immediately smell alcohol.
After Lau was released from the hospital, he was fired from his position as police chief.
The Florida Highway Patrol took over the investigation and determined that no criminal charges would be filed. It is not clear why.
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.