A former Novato police officer had his law enforcement certification revoked because of convictions for intoxicated driving, according to a state report.
Kendrick Pilegaard resigned from the Novato Police Department in 2023, the Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training said. The commission, which can discipline officers for misconduct, released its investigative report in November.
Brad Hofflander, an investigator for the commission, reported that Pilegaard was involved in a 2021 collision in Sonoma County where he crashed into a vehicle and caused it to overturn on its roof. Pilegaard was off-duty at the time. His alleged blood-alcohol content was 0.234%, or nearly three times the legal limit of .08%, Hofflander said.
A Sonoma County judge granted Pilegaard a diversion from criminal conviction if he met requirements such as community service and completing an intoxicated driving program. Pilegaard also entered an agreement with the Novato Police Department to not commit more alcohol-related misconduct.
In 2023, Pilegaard was arrested again for alleged intoxicated driving after a California Highway Patrol officer arrested him in a traffic stop on Highway 101 near Interstate 580. His blood-alcohol content level was at least 0.26%, the prosecution alleged.
“At the time of the second DUI, Respondent was in the midst of a trip in excess of 650 miles from Santa Rosa to Arizona,” Hofflander wrote. “Not only was Respondent speeding, driving erratically, and tailgating other cars on the freeway at 82 miles per hour while highly inebriated, Respondent also had a half-empty bottle of vodka and a firearm with him in his vehicle. At the time of this second DUI incident, Respondent had already failed the terms of diversion from the first DUI arrest and that criminal proceeding was still pending.”
Pilegaard was convicted in the Marin case in 2024. The commission’s report says he pleaded no contest, but the Marin County Superior Court website says he pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to a short jail term and three years of probation.
Andy Martinez, his defense attorney, said, “It’s my understanding that he resigned from law enforcement following his second arrest, and did not intend to renew any attempt to work in law enforcement thereafter.”
Pilegaard resigned while an internal investigation was ongoing, Novato police Capt. Sasha D’Amico said Monday. Pilegaard had worked for the department since September 2002.
Meagan Poulos, a spokesperson for the Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training, said officers have 30 days to respond to the commission if they are notified they are involved in a decertification case. An officer’s certification is automatically revoked if the officer does not respond.
“That is what occurred in this situation,” Poulos said.
Pilegaard did not respond to a request for comment.
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