Texas DPS

On the tape, Gordon Pierce appeals for "some slack."

It was January of last year when the city manager of Terrell was arrested for DWI while driving a city vehicle.

Now, more than a year later, he not only remains on the job but the case against him appears to be weakening.

So does that mean he's off the hook?

Terrell, Texas on January 7th, 2006.

It's 1:14 a.m.

State Trooper Chadrick Walker questions a person he believes is just another drunk driver who pulled out of a local bar without signaling.

According to Walker, the man not only failed all of the field sobriety tests, but admits to drinking and refuses his breathalyzer test.

But suddenly the arrest becomes not so routine.

On the way to the jail, the suspect informs the trooper he's Terrell City Manager Gordon Pierce and the car he was driving is owned by the city.

On the 15-minute drive to the Kaufman County jail, City Manager Pierce makes it very clear who he is and stresses the implications of his arrest.

"I'm not trying to beg but you guys are going to ruin my career," he tells police.

They reply: "Well, no, we're not going to ruin your career, you are ruining your career."

A bit later, Pierce makes another appeal.

"That's why I need some slack... I've been doing this 35 years and trying to retire."

As it turns out, Pierce has not needed any slack.

Now, 14 months later, he is still on the job at Terrell City Hall.

And because a judge ruled the trooper stopped him without sufficient probable cause, all evidence has been quashed.

The District Attorney has filed an appeal he admits has little hope.

So what's left is a video tape showing Pierce struggling to maintain his balance.

We decided to show the tape to a handful of Kaufman County residents to get their opinion without telling them who he is.

"He's drunk, he's intoxicated," said one resident.

"He doesn't look too sober. I don't think he's gonna make it," said another.

We pointed out that he was driving in a city vehicle.

"I think they ought to fire him," said another resident.

But since Pierce is the boss at City Hall, the only ones who can hold him accountable are the city council members and the mayor. But when we tried to talk to them, the answer was all the same.

Terrell Mayor Francis Anderson along with other council members, this week, were not interested in commenting.

"I don't want to comment on that until I get my, you know, I need to kind of get myself together."

Not only on Pierce but city policy regarding drinking and driving.

City policy states that any "employee under the influence of alcohol," while operating a city vehicle, is "subject to discipline including termination."

As to that, Pierce told me he had no comment.

And besides, based on what he told the trooper that night, he may just want it all to go away.

"You know when it comes out in the news I'm terminated," he told police officers at the time of his arrest.

E-mail bshipp@wfaa.com