Galesburg, Illinois - Ex-police lieutenant charged
Allegedly stole cocaine, methamphetamine from evidence locker
03/30/07, By Susan Kaufman, The Register-Mail
A 23-year former lieutenant with the Galesburg Police Department was charged with official misconduct and two drug charges Thursday afternoon. David W. Hendricks, 48, turned himself in at the Knox County jail at 2:14 p.m. after a warrant was issued.
Jail booking sheets detail one drug charge as possession of over 15 grams of cocaine, a Class 1 felony punishable by four to 15 years in prison. The second drug charge is possession of less than 15 grams of cocaine, a Class 2 felony punishable by one to three years in prison.
The official misconduct charge carries a sentence of two to five years in prison. According to court files, the official misconduct charge accuses Hendricks of committing theft of cocaine and methamphetamine from the police department evidence vault. Hendricks was put on paid administrative leave in late September, then resigned from the department on Dec. 22, 2006.
A three-month investigation in-to Hendricks conducted by the Illinois State Police was turned over to a special prosecutor in January 2007. Police Chief David Christensen said although the investigation took time, he is satisfied with the outcome. "The investigation was handled properly and done by the numbers," Christensen said. Christensen said he could not comment on the department's past or current procedures of checking in narcotics to the evidence locker due to the ongoing criminal case but said this was an isolated occurrence. "I believe in the integrity of our evidence room," Christensen said. "He (Hendricks) took advantage of his position."
Christensen said Hendricks' pension status is dependent on the outcome of the criminal case. "There are rules in place for employees convicted of certain charges," Christensen said. "His pension status is out of our hands at this point."
According to Knox County jail officials, Hendricks arrived at the jail with a lawyer and was freed after he posted 10 percent of a $15,000 bond. Hendricks is scheduled to make his first court appearance at 9 a.m. April 30.
Retrieved March 30, 2007 from http://www.register-mail.com/stories/033007/MAI_BCPUP9QM.GID.shtml