ROCKFORD, IL — A Rockford Police Department officer was cited for misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol around 9 p.m. April 24 after there was a reported hit and run crash with a pole at Perryville and Mulford roads in Loves Park.
Rockford Police Officer Matthew R. Hecker, 40, of Roscoe, was given a notice to appear for DUI after refusing to take a blood alcohol content test. Hecker, a 10 year veteran of the force, has been placed on paid administrative leave from the department.
Loves Park police had responded to the intersection of Perryville and Mulford roads after a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe hit a pole and left the scene. The vehicle’s bumper was left behind including its license plate which was registered to Hecker’s home in Roscoe, according to a factual summary filed in the court record.
Winnebago County Sheriff’s deputies went to the area of Hecker’s home where they saw Hecker drive the vehicle into his driveway. The Hyundai was missing its bumper and had a matching license plate. Deputies say Hecker smelled of alcohol and had “glassy eyes.”
No lawyer was listed in court records representing Hecker.
A police department spokeswoman said department officials would not comment on what she said was a personnel matter.
Hecker was given a notice to appear in court June 5 after declining to take a field sobriety test or preliminary breath test. Officers said he also refused to got to a police station to be tested.
The charges come less than two weeks after Rockford Officer Michael Rhein was forced to resign from the department following a guilty plea to charges of misdemeanor domestic battery as part of a plea agreement.
Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford police officer cited for DUI after crash
Reporting by Jeff Kolkey, Rockford Register Star / Rockford Register Star
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