Cop who collided with WSP off-duty crashes again on the job

Officer Michael Gore was arrested in 2021 for slamming into a Washington State Patrol cruiser while drunk and on multiple prescription drugs. He had a 'preventable' collision last year on duty.

A Seattle police officer who was previously arrested for crashing into a state trooper while intoxicated ran a red light and struck a car last year, according to a disciplinary report. The Office of Police Accountability, the Collision Review Board, and Gore’s chain of command determined that the collision was preventable.

On June 3, 2024, Gore was dispatched to a call about a man tapping on a window with a gun. His lights and sirens were active as he exited the highway at the 15th Ave offramp going 65 mph. By the time he reached the solid red light at the next intersection, Gore was going 19 mph.

Gore hit a car passing through on his left side hard enough to trigger the airbags and partially dislodge the push bar on Gore’s cruiser.

The Collision Review Board determined that this was a preventable collision but did not believe it was a policy violation. The OPA found out via an anonymous complaint.

Gore blamed the poor visibility at the intersection, which had multiple obstructions. He argued that he had slowed to a reasonable speed, noting that the state law doesn’t require officers to come to a complete stop to clear intersections. Gore also pointed out that the other driver was impaired, with a BAC of 0.127.

The OPA disagreed, citing Gore’s obligations under state law to exercise “due regard” for the safety of others and slow “down as may be necessary for safe operation” before passing through a red light. Given the obstructions that Gore acknowledged in his interview, the agency found that he “drove faster than reasonably necessary.” He received an oral reprimand.

In 2021, Gore struck a Washington State Patrol vehicle responding to a collision on the shoulder of the highway and continued driving for a quarter mile before stopping. When the state trooper caught up with him, they noted typical signs of intoxication. Gore refused the breathalyzer and field tests, claiming that he didn’t need to do them because he was a drug recognition expert.

The blood draw at the station found his blood alcohol level was just under the legal limit but detected eight prescription medications, including muscle relaxers, painkillers, and anti-anxiety pills. Gore said he was prescribed these medications for an on-duty injury but acknowledged he shouldn’t drink while taking them.

Gore pleaded guilty to DUI and was suspended for six days for the incident. The OPA also found that he falsely told his lieutenant that he was not impaired, but the agency argued that it could not prove Gore was intentionally dishonest—a presumed termination.

He also had two previous driving violations that were handled as supervisor actions. In 2023, Gore made $149,221, including overtime.