Moline Police Chief John Hitchcock was cited for OWI and speeding after an Iowa State Patrol trooper stopped him Friday, Sept. 7. The stop, for speeding, was around 6 p.m. Sept. 7 on Highway 61 in Scott County, state patrol Sgt. Nathan Ludwig said. As a result, Hitchcock was cited for OWI, first offense, and speeding.
UPDATE 9/8/2018 8:32 p.m.
Moline police captains suspended after their driver’s OWI traffic stop
Moline has a police leadership problem when two police captains are the passengers of the police chief when he is stopped for driving under the influence.
UPDATE: Former Moline Police Chief changes plea on OWI charge
From Moline Administrator Doug Maxeiner:
The findings resulting from the investigation and hearing as to the role of the Captains are as follows:
- There was no consumption of alcohol within the vehicle by any of the parties nor were any laws broken by Fisk and Johnson in their actions.
- All parties in Hitchcock’s vehicle cooperated fully with the Iowa State Police at the time of the traffic stop. In addition, there is no indication or suggestion that any of the occupants used their positions as law enforcement officers to influence the actions of the Iowa State trooper or the legal system in this incident.
- Johnson and Fisk, as a result of witnessing the consumption of alcohol by Chief Hitchcock on September 7th, should have taken action to prevent him from operating a motor vehicle.
- “It’s worth repeating that Fisk and Johnson were cooperative, forthcoming, and remorseful during the stop and subsequent investigation and are valued members of the leadership team in Moline. Despite their failure to act, their actions during and after the traffic stop are exactly what I would want and expect from a City of Moline employee if faced with these circumstances in the future. I am confident that both Fisk and Johnson will continue to be effective in their leadership roles in the City.”
UPDATE 11-7-18
Court records show that former Moline Police Chief John Hitchcock entered a guilty plea to a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.UPDATE 10-15-18
Moline City Administrator Doug Maxeiner released a statement that Police Chief John Hitchcock announced his intent to retire, effective immediately.
Preparations have begun to commence a search for a new police chief according to Maxeiner.
: Moline’s City Administrator released this statement:
“Early this morning Chief Hitchcock self-reported an incident to me that occurred Friday evening in Iowa. However, I don’t have any details or specifics as of yet and am not able to confirm any charges at this time. The City has initiated an investigation on this matter and will use an outside investigator to handle it. As we get additional information the City will provide an update.
Doug Maxeiner, City Administrator”
UPDATE 9/10/18 6:22 PM:
Moline City Administrator Doug Maxeiner released an update tonight on the complaint filed with the Scott County Court Clerk against Police Chief John Hitchcock.
Maxeiner says the City received the complaint and is utilizing the services of a local law firm to gather additional facts and conduct an investigation into the incident. He says while the City expects the investigation to be completed expeditiously there is currently no estimated completion date.
Maxeiner also says two other Police Department employees were in the vehicle at the time Hitchcock was stopped. He says Captain Trevor Fisk and Captain Brian Johnson have been placed on administrative leave as a precaution, while a preliminary investigation is completed. He says this was done as a precaution to make sure there were no improprieties during or after the traffic stop.
Neither Fisk nor Johnson was charged by the Iowa State Police in the incident and Maxeiner says the City has not received any report or suggestion of improper activity during or after the traffic stop.
UPDATE 11-7-18
Court records show that former Moline Police Chief John Hitchcock entered a guilty plea to a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.UPDATE 10-15-18
Moline City Administrator Doug Maxeiner released a statement that Police Chief John Hitchcock announced his intent to retire, effective immediately.
Preparations have begun to commence a search for a new police chief according to Maxeiner.
——————————UPDATE 10-10-18
According to court records, Moline Police Chief John Hitchcock pleaded not guilty to a charge of operating while under the influence, first offense in a written plea on Wed. Oct. 10, 2018.
No other information is available.
—————————–UPDATE 10/2:
TV6 spoke to Moline City Administrator Doug Maxeiner who says he received the report on the city’s investigation into Chief John Hitchcock’s OWI charge just last Friday.
Now Maxeiner is reviewing the report and is expected to announce a decision on Hitchcock’s fate “sometime next week.”
Maxeiner says he expects to announce “within the next couple of days” a decision on Capts. Fisk and Johnson, who have both returned to work.
UPDATE:
Moline City Administrator Doug Maxeiner has issued an update in regards to the video footage of Chief Hitchcock.
UPDATE:
The Iowa State Patrol has released a portion of the dashcam video from the evening a trooper pulled over Moline Police Chief John Hitchcock for speeding. In the video, you cannot hear Hitchcock’s response while he’s in the car.
“Hello, what’s your hurry?”
(inaudible)
“What?”
(inaudible)
“90 in a 65. Where is ya coming from?”
(inaudible)
“Okay. How much you’ve been drinking?”
“Not that much?”
(inaudible).
“Where do you work?”
(inaudible)
“City of Moline?
(inaudible)
“I’m going to have you step out for me.”
(inaudible)
“Do you have your weapon on you?”
“Okay, go ahead and step out.”
Chief Hitchcock steps out and walks to patrol car.
Chief Hitchcock: “I apologize, I didn’t know I was going that fast.
video ends
TV-6 requested all of the dashcam videos, but only received a portion of it. The Iowa State Patrol says the remainder of the video is a part of the confidential investigative report.
UPDATE 9/13/18 4:45 pm:
TV6 has learned that there are discrepancies in the court documents regarding the Moline Police Chief’s ticket.
In the affidavit, the trooper wrote Chief John Hitchcock was traveling over 90 mph in a 65 mile per hour zone on Highway 61.
However, in the criminal complaint, the trooper wrote Chief Hitchcock was traveling 75 in a 65.
Speaking not about Chief Hitchcock’s case but in general terms, Sergeant Nathan Ludwig with the Iowa State Patrol tells TV6 that officers do have the discretion to cite a driver at a slower speed than the speed they were actually caught going.
Ludwig also says officers have the discretion to not cite a driver at all for certain offenses if the officer deems it to be appropriate based on “the totality of the circumstances.”
UPDATE 9/11/18 4:36 PM:
Moline City Administrator Doug Maxeiner released an update in the incident involving Cheif Hitchcock.
After the trooper activated his radar unit, it was determined Hitchcock was going 90MPH in a 65MPH speed zone. He was then pulled over and advised why he was pulled over. Hitchcock said, “He did not realize he was going that fast”.
Court documents say the trooper could smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from inside the car. It goes on to say Hitchcock had bloodshot and watery eyes and slurred speech.
When asked if he had anything to drink, Hitchcock said: “he had a few”.
The trooper then proceeded to perform a standard field sobriety test. Documents show Hitchcock failed the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, the walk and turn test, and the one-leg stand test.
Please join us in congratulating Captain Trevor Fisk on his retirement from the Moline Police Department after 26 years of service. Captain Fisk started with the Erie Police Department in 1988 and served with the Prophetstown Police and the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Department before coming to Moline on April 12, 1993. Captain Fisk began his career on patrol and had stints as a Detective assigned to Street Crimes and Liaison assigned to Moline High School. Captain Fisk was promoted to Sergeant in October of 1999 and was a patrol supervisor until he was moved to Sergeant of the Juvenile Investigations Division in 2000. Captain Fisk was promoted to Lieutenant of Criminal Investigations in 2005 and Captain of Investigations in 2010. Captain Fisk is a graduate of the FBINA Class 261 and a Veteran of the US Army.
Please join us in congratulating Captain Brian Johnson on his recent promotion. Captain Johnson was promoted and selected as the Captain of the Operations Division at the Moline Police Department. Captain Johnson most recently served as Administrative Lieutenant and has previously served in several capacities throughout the police department. Captain Johnson is also the Unit Commander for the Moline-East Moline Crisis Containment Unit.
POLICE CHIEF SENTENCED TO TWO DAYS IN JAIL FOR DUI
FROM DISPATCH ARGUS:
Scott County Judge Mark Fowler sentenced Hitchcock on Wednesday to a 120-day jail sentence with all but two days suspended and a $1,250 fine, with half of the amount suspended, according to Scott County court records. He must serve a period of in-home detention, and a year of unsupervised probation.
The judge also ordered Hitchcock to complete a substance abuse evaluation and any resulting treatment and he must also complete the Iowa Course for Drinking Drivers.
