By Eric Hanson, The Houston Chronicle
SUGAR LAND -- Police Chief Michael Van Court resigned Friday, three days after being cleared of criminal wrongdoing in connection with a minor traffic accident where officers reported smelling alcohol on his breath.
Although Van Court was not charged after the July 30 accident, City Manager Allen Bogard said he had discussed the matter with the chief for several days recently and did not try to persuade him to stay.
Mayor David Wallace said the resignation, which becomes effective in 90 days, “will be in the best interest of our police department and the public’s perception” of the department.
Van Court, who received a 15-day suspension without pay two weeks ago for violating the policy on use of city-owned vehicles, has made no public statements about the incident and declined to comment Friday about his resignation.
The city launched an internal investigation after a city car driven by Van Court, 51, struck the rear of a vehicle at a traffic light about 10:30 p.m. July 30 on Texas 6 near Kensington. That vehicle was forced into the back of a minivan driven by Kurur Babu, 46, of Houston.
Babu’s wife, Ancy, was treated for a neck injury at a hospital. She said Friday that her neck still hurts, and her husband said he has sent the city a bill for about $1,000 in medical expenses.
“They have paid for damage to my car, but have not called back about the medical bills,” Babu said.
He added that he was surprised by the attention the accident has drawn and was stunned to learn the chief had resigned.
“Accidents happen,” Babu said. “I don’t see what is the big deal.”
At the scene of the accident, Van Court told police he had been drinking and officers noted a slight smell of alcohol on his breath. They did not administer a field sobriety test, however, because they said Van Court showed no signs of intoxication.
The chief was not given a citation for causing the accident, city officials said. He was taken to a local hospital for city-required drug and alcohol tests, they said, but hospital workers did not test for his blood-alcohol level.
Controversy grew after the city released a videotape made by a patrol-car camera, but the tape contained only a few seconds of audio. Officers are supposed to make audio records of their traffic stops, but none of the officers at the scene did.
After the city launched an internal probe, Fort Bend County District Attorney John Healey began investigating whether criminal charges should be filed against Van Court or the officers.
Healey said Tuesday that there was insufficient evidence to charge Van Court with drunken driving or trying to influence the officers at the accident scene. The Sugar Land officers also did not violate any laws, he said.
City officials announced Van Court’s 15-day suspension on Sept. 12 when they released a 29-page report on their internal investigation.
The officer who investigated the accident was reprimanded for not following city policy on using audio recording devices. Two supervisors also were reprimanded.
Bogard, the city manager, said on Sept. 12 that he believed Van Court should have been cited. City spokesman Doug Adolph said Friday, however, that no citation will be issued and that similar accidents have occurred without citations being issued.
Wallace said that, although the district attorney did not find sufficient evidence for charges, people have been telling him the officers’ treatment of the chief gave the appearance of a double standard.
“There were some errors of judgment that led to additional errors of judgment on top of errors of judgment,” Wallace said. “It’s a shame this whole situation happened.”
He praised Van Court for making a hard choice.
“I think the motivation for doing so was that it was in the best interest of our community, and that was admirable,” Wallace said.
Bogard said Van Court will return to city duty next week but will not work for the police department.
Assistant Chief Stuart Denton will take charge of the department while a national search for a new chief is conducted.