D-port alderman-elect under investigation after train mishap
As Fly said when McGivern's thing came out, "people will want to discuss this."
Mr. VanFossen did email the Colonel, Ambrose Fulton and myself a written statement, which they have both posted at their sites. I find it strange that while he appeared to be unaware of DDP and the Rule #3 Party, he seems quite aware of who runs the 3 Davenport politics blogs now. However, I have to compliment him on getting a statement out, and including bloggers in his media release. I won't repost the statement here, as I bet anyone that reads this blog probably reads SoLo.
I suspect this will be a bit different than McGivern's DUI, coming at the beginning of Alderman VanFossen's service instead of the end. It will be interesting to see what happens here. Obviously he's innocent until proven guilty, but I don't think that proof will take long. Maybe he'll plead guilty right away like Fly always wanted Bob to do. I'm not sure what will happen if Mr. VanFossen is unable to keep his seat on the city council, and whether there would be a special election or not. It seems somewhat logical to me to just give the seat to Gibbs. Since it seems logical to me, I'm sure that's not what will happen.
It serves to remind me that my 3 drink maximum is a good policy.
18 comments:
Not so fast. One can have a sitting alderman removed while in office. This was not committed while in office, and there is no law being an alderman with a past DUI.
It will be interesting to see how the comments turn out on this one. Many of the people who slammed McGivern for risking lives driving drunk are people who didn't like McGivern anyway. Now we have an alderman-elect that's popular with the "don't spend anything" crowd, so we'll see if this DUI is less evil than McGivern's to them.
WHAT DUI.................?
Lets slow down a little bit.
QCI, this means YOU!!!!!!!!!
Sounds like a threat to me...with nine exclamation marks. Whoa.
Why is it that whenever some Davenport politician gets in a "dilemma," the police department washes it hands and turns it over to state police? Are they incapable of performing their job in an unbiased manner?
I would think a breathalyzer test would be standard procedure when someone ignores a rail crossing signal and collides with a train.
"Listen, officer, I had the green light and then this here train ran a red light and slammed right into me. . ."
In Moline, of course, that explanation would work.
That's the differences between Davenport PD and Moline's...
Davenport immediately turns the matter over to an unbiased 3rd party. Moline PD just sends the person home, or gets in a fight with them.
I might add that in both Davenport and Moline, the police send them home first and investigate later. Hmmmmm.
I agree, the young Mr. QCI does tend to jump to conclusions. But, those are the indescretions of youth.
Someday, hopefully QCI will grow up and get some brains. But, right now he is just a skull full of mush.
Right, most sober people go around a downed crossing signal and then get hit by a train. Pretty hard to miss a train coming at you unless your eyes are so blurred by booze that you can't see it.
A skull full of mush?
Then WHY ARE YOU READING MY BLOG?
I find it a sign of the spin doctors that any politician arrested today for "whatever" now rushes off to the media with their prepared statements in hand. I rather liked it when they were caught leaving the police station pulling up their coat collars to hide their face and scurrying away from reporters trying to ask questions. Now they fire off self-serving statements to the media (and blogs) as a sort of "first strike" offensive. And, why not. It seems to work. No intrusive questions to answer at a news conference, or in front of the glare of television lights on the courthouse or police station steps. Next step, send in the lawyers.
What's taking so long to get Van Fossen's blood alcohol test?
As I understand it the only evidence of VanFossen being drunk was that they car smelled like alcohol. Smelling like alcohol isn't enough to get someone on a DUI. Regardless of whether he was drunk or not, the fact that a retired COP drove onto railroad tracks, when the gate was down, and then was hit by the train seems to make this incident far more serious. I would expect cops to know better. Maybe VanFossen is a train hobbyist.
Nobody is perfect. More to the point, you guys can lament this all you want. Van Fossen is not yet an alderman, so nothing here endangers his right to be one. Secondly, he has been quite a stand up guy on the matter.
Oh yes smelling like alcohol is enough to get someone a DUI. If he refused the test, then circumstancial evidence can be used. LIke - smell, blood shot eyes, slurred speach, etc. Read the code.
Sure, it is possible he could end up with a DUI, but if there is no physical proof, then it is less likely he will be charged. Either way, they can't touch him on the City Council. He was only an alderman elect, not an alderman, so he cannot be removed from office.
Morally, however, there is no difference. If it turns out that he was drunk, he endangered our children's lives just as much as Alderman McGivern. The fact that he wasn't one at the time really doesn't make the alleged crime any less bad.
Maybe so, but you can't touch him on the Council. He gets to serve, period. Now, I am not defending the man or his politics, but I am hopeful he will tighten the purse strings on Davenport spending. If that happens, I can ignore his personal life.
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