State College police Chief Tom King has released a written statement about the April 25 collision on East Beaver Avenue. The crash, involving a police sergeant and a pedestrian, has led to summary charges against both parties.
Here’s the complete, unedited text of King’s statement:
On April 25, 2010 a State College Police Sergeant driving a marked police cruiser was involved in a pedestrian crash on the 400 block of East Beaver Avenue. Because the serious injury crash involved a State College Police Sergeant, the Pennsylvania State Police was contacted requesting they conduct the crash investigation to avoid any appearance of an investigative impropriety or conflict of interest. The Pennsylvania State Police accepted full crash investigation responsibility and concluded their investigation earlier this week. While I will not comment on any specific details of the actual crash investigation, I do want to make a few overall post crash investigation comments.
First, most if not all pedestrian/vehicle crashes are quite traumatic to all involved. My thoughts and concern continue to go out to both the pedestrian Kevin Ignatuk and driver Sergeant Bill Muse.
Second, the Pennsylvania State Police was requested in an effort to ensure the public was confident there would be a thorough, competent, and impartial investigation and because I have always and continue to have the utmost confidence in the investigative abilities of the Pennsylvania State Police.
The Pennsylvania State Police have filed a traffic citation for driving too fast for conditions against Sergeant Bill Muse based on their investigative findings. In keeping with the department’s internal affairs policy, the allegation that Sergeant Muse was driving his patrol vehicle too fast for conditions during the early morning hours of April 25, 2010 will be reviewed and processed. Regarding the traffic citation, Sergeant Muse enjoys all the same legal rights as any citizen who has received a traffic citation and has the right to defend himself against the traffic citation if he so chooses. As Chief of Police, I support whatever decision Sergeant Muse makes as it relates to his plea on the traffic citation.
Finally, while it is inappropriate for me to comment on this specific pending traffic citation filed against Sergeant Muse, I want to assure the public that Sergeant Muse is a 16-year veteran with the State College Police Department who has been an outstanding police officer and detective and as a result was promoted to his current rank of sergeant almost six (6) years ago. Since his promotion to a police supervisory position, he continues to perform excellently and in a very diligent, dedicated, conscientious, and professional manner. Sergeant Muse also holds several specialized assignments with the police department and has been recognized numerous times for his outstanding performance.
