INDIANAPOLIS -- A Marion County Sheriff's Department employee accused of striking an officer with his pickup truck after the Brickyard 400 has pleaded not guilty to operating a vehicle while intoxicated and other charges.

Richard Rowley, 59, and his attorney, Jim Voyles, had nothing to say as they left the courtroom Thursday.

Julio Fernandez, public information officer for the Marion County Sheriff's Department, said Thursday that Rowley was fired on Monday, the day after the incident.

Officer Travis Williams was directing traffic near 16th Street at Rochester Avenue just before 6 p.m. Sunday when he was struck by a Ford Ranger pickup driven by Rowley, police said.

According to a police report, Rowley joked with an officer that he "stopped counting after college" when asked how many drinks he had that day, later admitting he had several beers and registering a blood-alcohol level of 0.13 percent

Rowley was a civilian employee of MCSD who assisted in McGruff the Crime Dog presentations.

"It is a bad example to have someone who has done something like that being involved in a situation where we visit children, we go to schools," Fernandez said. "That's not going to work."

Rowley also worked as a physical education teacher at Southport Middle School, and has been with the district for 32 years. He was placed on administrative leave with pay.

Williams suffered a fractured pelvis and broken legs. He has been with the Indianapolis Metro Police Department since July 2009.

"He's had two surgeries since the injuries ... Obviously, when you have injuries to your legs and hips that may hinder his ability to run or something like that. It may have an impact on his future employment," said Chief Trial Deputy David Wyser.

Rowley was released on $1,500 bond. Under terms of pretrial release, he is required to avoid alcohol. His license was suspended.

A pretrial hearing was set for Sept. 9.