PEORIA PEORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT :p~(ji)NovemberA 2012

Sergeant Douglas Theobald

600 SW Adams St.Peoria, II 61602

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 and crashed the vehicle into a electrical utility box in the 8100 block of

N. Hale and fled the scene. OfficerCouve is one of your subordinates as you are the

Commander of the Special Investigations Division which includes the Vice Unit. An investigationof the crash was done bv on-duty personnel, including Sergeant Richard Glover. .

600 s. W. Adams StreetPeoria,IL61602-1592Phone 309.494.8300

The Illinois State Police conducted an investigation into the incident that led to felony Criminal. .

charges against both Officer Couve and Sergeant Glover.

I find that your actions and inactions taken on 7/8/12 as it pertains to your involvement in the

investigation of Officer Couve's City of Peoria vehicle crash were a major factor in the

catastrophic outcome of the series of events that resulted in bringing discredit to the

department. I find you in violation of General order 100.06, Rules and Regulations, VI. Rules of

.Conduct, B. Conduct unbecoming an officer which reads Ii No officer shall engage in any

conduct or activity on or off duty that reflects discredit upon the department or its officers, ortends to bring this department in disrepute, or impairs its efficient and effective operation."

As a result ofyourfailure to notify appropriate on duty personnel of your knowledge of the

potential wrongdoings taking place at the scene of the investigation, your failure to correct the

information briefed to you by Lt. Burke, and your failure to expeditiously and accurately brief

Captain Scally on the facts surrounding the crash, I find that you violated General Order 100.06,

Rules and regulations, VI. Rules of Conduct, c. accountability, responsibility, and discipline,S.

Which reads Ii Officers shall accept responsibility for their actions without attempting to

conceal, divert or mitigate their true culpability. No officer shall engage in efforts to thwart,influence, or interfere with an internal or criminal investigation."

I find that you failed to show respect, courtesy and professionalism toward your peer

lieutenants and commanding officer when you failed to notify Lt. King ofthe facts you knew

regarding the investigation into the crash of Officer Couve's City of Peoria vehicle; when you

failed to correct the information when briefed by Lieutenant Burke; and when you failed to

notify Captain Scally in a timely and accurate manner of the knowledge you possessed

pertaining to the circumstances surrounding the incident. You are in violation of general order

100.06, Rules and -Regulations, VI. Rules of Conduct, D. Conduct toward fellow employees, 1.

Which reads :: Officers shall conduct themselves in a manner that will foster cooperation among

members ofthis department, fellow city employees, and other outside agencies, showingrespect, courtesy and professionalism in their dealings with one another."

You had the explicit responsibility to notify the on duty shift cornmander.Lt. King, of your

knowledge of the potential criminal activity that was occurring at the scene ofthe investigation,

along with the witness information you possessed, into the crash.

,

'. Therefore I find that you violated general

order 100.06, Rules and Regulations, VI. Rules of Conduct, K. Off duty authority and

responsibility, 2. The second paragraph which reads" In a!1 cases where crimes are committed.

in the presence ofthe off-duty officer, regardless of whether or not the officer has taken any

other action, it shall be the duty of the off-duty officer to immediately contact on-duty

personnel to handle these situations and relay all pertinent information to the respondingofficer.

I also find that you extended tacit approval to Officer Linthicum to operate his City of Peoria

assigned vehicle for unofficial purposes during which time Officer Linthicum had been drinking

alcohol while in your presence. This conduct is below what is expected of a police command

officer in your management of of both employees and department resources. You neglected

your responsibilities by not only failing to correct the behavior at the time but by participating

in it by having Officer Linthicum drive you from one tavern to another and then to your

residence. That, combined with your shirking of your command obligations as you deliberately

went to great lengths to avoid responsibility by attempting to "divorce" yourself from the

situation involving the investigation into the wreck of one of your subordinate's Department

vehicle, is unsatisfactory performance. I find that you violated General Order 100.06, Rules and

Regulations" VII. Unsatisfactory Performance, which reads "Officers shall perform their duties

in a manner which will maintain the highest standard of efficiency in carrying out the functions

and objectives of the department. Unsatifactory performance may be demonstrated by:"

Paragraph C. "Failure to conform to work standards established for an officer's rank,assignment, or position."

As a result of the cumulative behavior, your actions and failure to act on the morning of July 8,

20l2, I find that you violated general order 100.04, Code of Ethics, as cited here: I will keep my

private life unsullied as an example to all 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 ofthe land and the

regulations of my department.; I will cooperate with all legally authorized agencies and theirrepresentatives in the pursuit of justice.

On November 13, 2012 at 11 A.M. I conducted a pre-disciplinary review meeting with you. Also

present were Captain Scally and Officer Troy Skaggs as a representative of the Peoria Police

Benevolent Association .. 1 informed you, during this meeting, that due to the seriousness of

these violations, my intention was to terminate your employment with the Peoria PoliceDepartment.

You countered to me that in lieu oftermination you would voluntarily take a demotion to the

rank of Sergeant and a 30 day su~pension. I told you that I would consider your proposal with

the condition that you would forfeit your appeal/grievance rights and would return to work

with a positive attitude. You agreed with those conditions and I decided to accept your

proposal and uP.on your voluntary demotion I am issuing you this 30 day suspension.

Any similar violations in the future may result in further disciplinary action, includingsuspension and/or termination. This letter shall remain in your personnel file.

~:~===::-::::::::-

Police Chief

Employee

4~~/-- -

Witness -

CC: Human resources Director

Uniformed Services Captain Lisa SnowPPBA Secretary

Personnel File

Professional Standards Hiemts

1/-2b-/'LDate

Date