Upper Darby mayor apologizes for DUI, says she’s seeking treatment for alcohol addiction

Upper Darby Mayor Barbarann Keffer, who was pulled over and charged with driving under the influence Thursday, apologized for the incident and said she was seeking treatment for alcohol addiction.

In a statement posted to the Upper Darby Township website, Keffer, 56, acknowledged her arrest for driving under the influence and said she had been dealing with stress from “constant personal attacks.” Keffer, who was elected mayor in 2019, said the township’s two acting co-chief administrative officers would continue to handle day-to-day operations.

It was unclear for how long the two officers, Alison Dobbins and Rita LaRue, would be overseeing operations.

In an email, Dobbins said Keffer did not plan to step down.

“Mayor Keffer is taking time to get the help she needs and to recover, but she has no intention of stepping down from her position as Mayor,” Dobbins said. “We remain in regular contact with her, and the township will function under the leadership of myself and our other Co-Chief Administrative Officer, Rita LaRue.”

Keffer did not say what specific treatment she would be seeking, aside from saying she would be finding “healthy ways” to handle stress.

She could not be reached for comment Monday.

“As mayor of Upper Darby, I realize that I am held to a higher standard and I am prepared to face the consequences of my actions,” Keffer said in the statement. “I will be forever grateful that no one was physically harmed in this incident. I apologize to my family, my staff, and my constituents for this severe error in judgment.”

Keffer was arrested shortly after 9 p.m. Thursday on Route 322 in Upper Chichester Township after a police officer saw her driving her Toyota on a flat tire and drifting out of her lane, according to the criminal complaint filed against her. The officer said he could smell alcohol on Keffer’s breath, the complaint said.

After the officer administered one field sobriety test, the complaint said, Keffer refused to do any more of the tests, including a blood test. Keffer also refused to be fingerprinted or photographed at the Upper Chichester Township police headquarters, according to the complaint.

No injuries were reported and Keffer was released on a summons. In the statement, Keffer said she was cooperating fully with Upper Chichester authorities.