Full Notification

As the weather gets warm, we will see an increase in the number of community members who are out and about enjoying parties, family get-togethers, and summer activities. If those events and activities include alcohol, the Livermore Police Department wants to remind our community about the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving. LPD urges everyone to plan ahead for a sober ride home if an activity they are attending includes the use of alcohol. By designating a sober driver, using public transportation, or staying at the location you are drinking, you can avoid being arrested for drunk driving. Driving a vehicle after consuming alcohol is simply not worth the risk of being arrested or involved in a collision. When using a designated driver, please remember that a “designated driver” is the person who doesn’t drink on that occasion, not the person who drinks the least.

Livermore recently experienced the deadly consequences of drinking and driving. On Friday 5/26/17, the Livermore Police Department responded to a traffic collision that occurred on State Route 84 (Isabel Ave) just south of I580. The investigation revealed that 73 year old Livermore resident David Nemeroff had stopped his silver Mercedes on the right shoulder of the southbound lanes of State Route 84. For an unknown reason, Mr. Nemeroff was standing outside his vehicle when a Lincoln SUV being driven by Jennifer Barbero (42 year old Pleasanton resident) approached the area. Barbero allowed her Lincoln to move to the right of the southbound lanes and her vehicle struck Mr. Nemeroff and his parked vehicle. Mr. Nemeroff was thrown to the ground and he sustained critical injuries. Responding medical personnel tended to Mr. Nemeroff’s injuries and he was transported to a local trauma center to be treated. Mr. Nemeroff died as a result of those injuries two days later.

As a result of the Police Department’s investigation, Jennifer Barbero was placed under arrest at the scene for suspicion of driving while under the influence and causing great bodily injury. Barbero was booked into custody at Santa Rita Jail. Barbero was later released from custody as the District Attorney’s Office awaited the toxicology results of the blood sample collected from Barbero.

On Wednesday 6/14/17, the Livermore Police Department submitted the completed case investigation to the District Attorney’s Office seeking charges against Barbero for the unlawful killing of Nemeroff. The District Attorney’s Office filed the charge of murder against Barbero. A warrant was issued for Barbero’s arrest and Barbero was taken into custody on 6/15/2017. Barbero was booked at Santa Rita Jail and will remain in custody until she appears in court.

Drunk driving is a serious crime that too often has tragic results. The Livermore Police Department is active in trying to prevent drunk driving through both enforcement and education efforts. In October of 2016, LPD received a traffic safety grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety. Part of the traffic safety grant includes funds to conduct DUI checkpoints and DUI saturation patrols. In 2016, the Livermore Police Department arrested 125 drivers for suspicion of drunk driving and responded to 53 DUI related collisions. In 2016, LPD put on its semi-annual Every 15 Minutes anti-drunk driving program to all of the junior and senior high school students at Livermore High, Granada High, Vineyard High, and the Charter Prep. High schools. During this program, over 2500 high school students were educated on the dangers of drunk driving and the fact that the type of collision that took a life in Livermore is completely avoidable.

The Livermore Police Department hopes to avoid any further tragedies by reminding everyone not to drink and drive, and to consider the possible consequences before ever getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.