Aurora Police Chief Nick Metz defended his decision to not fire an officer found drunk on duty in his vehicle as “car[ing] about the human being who stepped up and owned his incredibly poor decision.”

Characterizing the “inaccurate media spin” of the incident, Metz wrote that “I don’t want this to become a distraction from a message I want all of you to hear loud and clear, which is this: If you make a mistake, OWN YOUR S**T.”

The Denver Post reports that police did not test for alcohol consumption after finding an officer unconscious in his car near Buckley Air Force Base on March 29. Firefighters had to break open the vehicle window, and at least three responding officers noted a smell of alcohol.

The officer later admitted that he consumed vodka while on duty.

A spokesperson for Metz told the Post that the chief is declining all requests for interviews. Metz said that the stressful nature of police work and the fact that the officer admitted culpability factored into the decision to keep him on the force.

“I know cops are human beings. You are not perfect. You are exposed to higher levels of stress and trauma than the general public will ever truly understand,” he said.