When you picture a police officer responding to a car crash, “heroic and helpful” probably comes to mind. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for David McVeigh, a former Milwaukie, Oregon officer whose career came to a screeching halt after a shocking abuse of power. McVeigh, 35, entered a no-contest plea to first-degree misconduct after admitting to coercing a drunk woman for sex following a car accident.
The story reads like something out of a dark true-crime documentary. While on patrol, McVeigh was dispatched to help an Oregon woman who had driven her car off the road while intoxicated. After arranging a tow for the vehicle, he drove her back to her apartment, and then allegedly asked her for oral sex. Court documents reveal that the woman later told police she felt pressured to comply, thinking it might help her avoid a ticket, per The Daily Mail.
What makes the situation even more frustrating is how long it took for justice to catch up. The incident wasn’t reported until much later, when the woman confided to authorities while dealing with an unrelated domestic violence case. Detectives initially had trouble locating her for an interview, leaving the case dormant for years. McVeigh’s behavior didn’t stop there.
Oregon Cop Fired After Horrifying Abuse Of Power
He was also accused of stalking a woman in a parking lot during a police training event at Spirit Mountain Casino at 3 a.m. He claimed he was merely trying to sell a rare bottle of liquor, but the Milwaukie Police Chief at the time, Luke Strait, noted that the incident was “immediately concerning” in light of previous allegations.
Once investigators were able to confirm details with the crash victim, and corroborate her story with dispatch records. A formal charge was eventually filed. McVeigh was promptly fired, ending a career that had begun in 2016. It’s worth noting the awkward contrast between his misconduct and the glowing Facebook post from the Milwaukie Police Department just two years earlier.
The post praised McVeigh for “going the extra mile,” highlighting how he cleared tree limbs, delivered firewood to elderly residents, and even dug out blocked roadways. Those commendable actions now look bizarre in the context of his admitted misconduct.
Did The Punishment Fit The Crime?
Under his plea deal finalized in January 2025, McVeigh must complete 150 hours of volunteer work by 2026, surrender his police license permanently, and, if he fulfills the community service requirement, the case will be dismissed. While some might argue this allows him to “keep his record clean,” it’s hard not to feel that accountability is, at best, partial and that the impact on the woman involved can never truly be erased.
“He was really helping that woman, huh? He’s as disgusted as his punishment,” one person commented. “Disgusting and shamefully mild sentence. I hope disgrace and embarrassment help make up for the error margin,” another wrote. “Can’t believe he just has to put in some community service hours then gets to start over with a clean slate. That was a serious offense. Yes, she complied but she was also inebriated and pressured,” a third person wrote.
This case serves as a chilling reminder that authority comes with responsibility. For the residents of Milwaukie and across the state of Oregon, it’s a story that leaves a stain on the justice system. A public servant crossing the line in the most personal and egregious way, turning what should have been a routine act of assistance into a nightmare for someone already vulnerable.
Sofia Bassett 
Hunter Spears 
Kendra Quinn 
