Sag Harbor Village Police Department Officer Michael Arkinson, who in June 2024 arrested pop star Justin Timberlake for drunk driving (DWI), has been picked as “Officer of the Year” by his department. Arkinson, who was just 24 years old, was rewarded for his outstanding service, leadership in law enforcement, and dedication to public safety. His performance in 2024, like being a top leader in arrests and summons, cemented his status as a top official in his department.
Timberlake was apprehended by Arkinson on June 18, 2024, after he failed to stop at a stop sign and drove erratically. When he arrived at his car, Arkinson sensed glassy, bloodshot eyes, a strong alcohol aroma to his breath, and slurred words from Timberlake. Timberlake struggled with field sobriety tests and would not take a roadside breath test.
During the course of the incident, Timberlake had insisted that he had “just had one martini” before getting behind the wheel. Witnesses, like hotel bartenders in a nearby hotel, corroborated his statement by confirming that he had had a single drink. Timberlake was nevertheless arrested and later released on his own recognizance after arraignment.
Timberlake had a variety of charges against him to begin with, including DWI, failure to remain in his lane, and running a stop sign. He pleaded out in September of 2024 and had his charge lowered to Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI), a lesser charge.
As part of his plea, Timberlake was fined $500 and was required to pay a $260 surcharge. His driver’s license was suspended for a period of 90 days, and he was ordered to do 25 hours of community service. Timberlake was also ordered to do a public service announcement about drunk driving risks.
Timberlake issued a remorseful appeal to the public, requesting them not to drink and drive.
Most of you have probably had me covered a lot during a lot of my life, and you know how high a standard I set for myself. And this was not that. I put myself in a situation where I could have made a different decision,” Timberlake said.
“It’s a mistake that I’ve made, and I hope whoever’s listening and watching right now can learn from it. I know that I have. And like I said, even one drink, don’t get behind a car.”
Apart from his role in Timberlake’s arrest, efforts by Officer Arkinson in policing have been widely praised. He started working as a part-time traffic officer in 2017 and later joined the Sag Harbor Police Department in March 2024 as a full-time officer. His style of policing, his approach to dealing with critical incidents, and his leadership in making arrests and serving summons have set him apart as a dedicated officer.
Sag Harbor Police Chief Rob Drake presented Arkinson with the “Officer of the Year” award. Chief Drake commended Arkinson’s service, citing his timely service to society and to the department. Reports also cited Arkinson’s response to a high-priority call for a possible overdose just before attending to the high-visibility DWI case, proving his commitment to public safety beyond high-visibility calls.
