FEDERAL WAY, Wash. -- "I take full responsibility."

That was the apology from Federal Way Police Chief Brian Wilson after he got into a minor fender bender last week that he admits was due to his surfing of the web on his Blackberry.

Wilson said he was stopped at a red light in an unmarked police car on March 18 at the intersection of S. 324th Street and Pacific Highway South in Federal Way. He then glanced at his Blackberry to check news headlines and his e-mail.

Thinking traffic had started moving again, he took his foot off the brake and bumped into the car in front of him. He said there was no damage to either car and no one was injured.

Wilson said he's never had an at-fault accident in the 28 years he's been a police officer.

"This is a good lesson in the intense concentration driving takes," Wilson said in a statement released by the police department. "If you're not focused, accidents can happen -- even to the chief of police."

Wilson was given a verbal reprimand by the city manager -- a standard penalty for first time collisions that result in less than $700 damage.

Emergency vehicles are exempt from the Washington State Law that prohibits sending, receiving or writing messages while driving. Still, Wilson said that doesn't excuse his behavior.

"Was this an essential communication for me to be on at the time? No," Wilson said.

He vowed it will never happen again.