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PEORIA
Officer Richard Linthicum 600 SW Adams St. Peoria, II 61602

PEORIA

POLICE

DEPARTMENT

~C>

(fi)
2012

Novembe0,

Re: Letter of Suspension

On July 8,2012, at approximately

1:42 A.M., Officer John Couve was driving his assigned Vice

Unit take home vehicle arid crashed the vehicle into a electrical utility box in the 8100 block of N. Hale then fled the scene. Officer Couve is one of your co-workers as you are also assigned to the Vice Unit. An investigation of the crash was done by on-duty personnel, including Sergeant Richard Glover. Sergeant Glover directed the investigation and the vehicle was falsely reported as stolen and recovered.

The Illinois State Police conducted an investigation into the incident that led to felony Criminal charges against both Officer Couve and Sergeant Glover. Subsequently, an internal investigation of the incident was completed by Lt. Ken Snow ofthe Professional Standards Unit. I have reviewed these investigations. '

600 s. W. Adams Street . Peoria,IL61602-1592 Phone 3Q9.494.8300

, I find that you failed to relay all the pertinent the incident. Rules of Conduct, K. Off-duty authority "In all cases where crimes are committed whether to immediately information contact on-duty personnel officer." information you possessed to the officer investigating VI. of which reads This places you in violation of Genral Order 100.06, Rules and regulations, and responsibility, in the presence 2. (Second paragraph) ofthe

off-duty officer, regardless and relay all pertinent

or not the officer has taken any other action, it shall be the duty of the off-duty officer to handle these situations to the responding

\ factor in the catastrophic Department. Rules of conduct, outcome

50,

'as a major of a series of events that which brought discredit to the General Order 100.06, Rules and regulations, an officer which reads
(f

By not doing

you violated

VI.

b. Conduct unbecoming in disrepute,

No officer shall engage in any or its officers, or operation. that

conduct or activity on or off-duty that reflects discredit upon the department tends to bring this department

or impairs its efficient and effective on duty personnel

As a result of your failure to notify appropriate investigation regulations, was thwarted.

of your knowledge

on July 8, 2012, the I find you in violation fortheir of General Order 100.06, Rules and responsibility, and discipline,S. to conceal, influence, Which reads divert, or or attempting VI. Rules of Conduct, C. Accountability,

"Officers shall accept responsibility mitigate their true culpability. interfere

actions without

No officer shall engage in efforts to thwart,

with an internal or criminal investigation."

Peoria vehicle when it crashed was a neglect of your responsibility enforcement Unsatisfactory objectives of Duty." ofthe officer. I find that you violated performance, department,

and duty as a sworn law VII.

General order 100,06, Rules and regulations, and

which states "Officers shall perform their duties in a manner of efficiency in carrying out the functions performance may be demonstrated Unsatisfactory by: E. Neglect

which will maintain the highest standard

You also drove your city of Peoria assigned vehicle on the evening of July 7, 2012into morning of July 8,2012, vehicle to two taverns with the tacit approval vehicle concept, while not in your . official capacity as a police officer. , where you drank alcoholic beverages. of your unit commander contrary who was a passenger to the intended

the

You drove the

Part of your travel that night was in your veh icle. While purpose of the take home

this behavior is not proper nor justifiedand

there is no clear policy violation.

As a result of your cumulative behavior, actions, and failure to bring forth pertinent information that you possessed regarding a criminal investigation, 100.04, Code of Ethics, as cited here: I find that you violated general Order

i will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all

I will

and will behave in a manner that does not bring discredit to me or to my agency; I will be exemplary in obeying the law of the land and the regulations of my department.; cooperate with all legally authorized agencies and their representatives in the pursuit of justice. On November 13, 2012 at 1 P.M .. I conducted a pre-disciplinary Benevolent Association. term ination. After discussion all parties agreed that you will accept a 30 day suspension in lieu of termination and voluntarily forfeit your appeal/grievance rights. review meeting with you. Also ofthe Peoria Police

present were Captain Scally and Officer Troy Skaggs as a representative

I informed you, during this meeting, that due to the seriousness of

these violations, the options I was considering for discipline were a 30 day suspension and

Any similar violations in the future may result in further disciplinarv action, including

;Z;
Employee

nsion and/or termination. usg

This letter shall remain in your personnel file.

Steven M. Settingsgaard Police Chief

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Date

Date CC: Human resources Director Uniformed Services Captain Lis~ Snow PPBA Secretary Personnel File Professional Standards File mts