RICHMOND, Ky. -- A Newport police officer was arrested on DUI charges in Richmond while driving his cruiser Thursday night.

Richmond police said Officer Gregory Simmons, 42, was arrested on Thursday night.

Simmons was in Richmond attending the Department of Criminal Justice Training. He's been an officer with Newport police since 1996.

Police said Simmons was eating at a restaurant and then drinking at the restaurant's bar before he got into his cruiser to leave.

Officers said Simmons got the cruiser stuck on a curb, and his attempts to free the cruiser attracted enough attention that someone in the restaurant called 911.

Richmond police said Simmons got the cruiser off the curb with some help, but bystanders gave officers the cruiser's city and number and said it appeared Simmons had been drinking.

Simmons was pulled over a short time later. He refused a Breathalyzer test and was charged with DUI, police said.

"You can't get much more disappointed," Newport Chief Robbie Hall said. "It's really embarrassing to have an officer do something like this."

Hall told News 5's Eric Flack that Simmons is suspended without pay pending a disciplinary hearing that can't begin until his case is done in court.