What will happen to Camp Hill's police chief? DUI doesn't always mean job loss for law enforcement

file photo (PennLive.com/2016)

Nothing says a Pennsylvania police chief convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol must automatically be fired.

Tom Gross, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, is aware of "several occasions" when a municipal police officer, chief or state trooper in Pennsylvania has held their job after a DUI conviction.

Still, that's no guarantee Douglas Hockenberry, the police chief in Camp Hill, will be able to continue in the job he has held since 2013.

Municipal police chiefs and officers must maintain a certification from the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission. That certification gets revoked if the officer is convicted of a disqualifying offense, a category that includes DUI.

But if the officer qualifies for ARD -- Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition -- the DUI is no longer considered a disqualifying offense, according to Lt. George Peach, the assistant director of the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission, which handles the certifications. A second DUI, however, would cause the officer to lose certification, which is needed to be employed as a law enforcement officer in Pennsylvania, according to Peach. 

It remains to be seen if Hockenberry, 46, will qualify for ARD, which is available to first-time offenders charged with non-violent, relatively-minor crimes.

The district attorney and the judge handling the case have a say in who gets accepted into ARD. They can take into account things like their belief regarding whether the person is likely to repeat the crime; whether ARD is a fair resolution compared to penalties given to others who have committed similar offenses; and whether there are other circumstances that reflect on whether the person deserves ARD.

The charges against Hockenberry are still playing out, and it's therefore impossible to know whether he will qualify for ARD.

Hockenberry was arrested by state police on the night of Nov. 6 after his pickup truck allegedly collided with a tree in Rye Township in Perry County, where he lives. State troopers eventually charged him with a having a blood alcohol level of 0.178, more than double the legal limit. They also said he called a tow truck but not police, resulting in a charge of failing to report an accident.

Camp Hill officials have said little about the situation, other than saying Hockenberry is on personal leave. They have said there are some things they won't be able to discuss publicly because of personnel reasons.

Hockenberry issued a statement through his lawyer saying he takes "full responsibility for his poor decision." The statement further said Hockenberry "hopes to one day regain the trust of the Camp Hill community that he has established over 21 years of law enforcement."

Reaction to the situation is mixed in Camp Hill, where Hockenberry has been an officer since 1996. Some say he has a long track record of being a friendly, competent officer and chief and they want him to receive a second chance.

Others have noted that Hockenberry is known to everyone in the town of 7,630, and his role has included warning students of the dangers of drinking and driving. They worry his continued employment would send a harmful message to young people.

Gross, of the chief's association, said that even if Hockenberry receives ARD, his continued employment as chief could end up in the hands of local officials. In Pennsylvania boroughs such as Camp Hill, elected council members typically hire and fire staff, and could decide it's in the best interests of the borough to fire him.

Still, they would have to abide by civil service and "just cause" rules, he noted.

Malcolm Friend, the program director for Mothers Against Drunk Driving in Pennsylvania, said the organization is "saddened when any individual in a prominent public position chooses to drive impaired. MADD asks that he will be held fully accountable for his alleged actions."

Friend, noting that Hockenberry hasn't been convicted, wouldn't comment on what MADD would consider an appropriate penalty.

Gross said Hockenberry has been active in the chief's association and "has some credibility, for sure, as a chief." He noted the Camp Hill department is accredited by the association, and the designation is not easy to attain, typically reflecting a chief who is devoted to "best practices" for law enforcement.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.