RAPIDES PARISH, La. (WAFB) - A former Louisiana State Police captain accused of crashing her state-issued vehicle into a Baton Rouge police officer while driving drunk has been hired as a detective at the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office while her criminal case remains pending in Baton Rouge, the WAFB I-TEAM has learned.

Belinda Murphy joined the sheriff’s office two months ago and earns $46,000 annually, according to a spokesman with that sheriff’s office. The spokesman also confirmed the agency was aware of her arrest at the time she was hired.

Murphy worked for the State Police for 23 years before retiring after the incident in February 2025.

She was charged with DWI, two counts of negligent injuring, and disregarding traffic signals after allegedly running a red light and crashing in

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