Brooks Invites IMPD Chief Rick Hite To President's State Of The Union Address As Confidence In His Leadership Erodes

U.S. Susan Brooks (R) put out a press release announcing she had invited IMPD Chief Rick Hite as her personal guest during President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address Tuesday night, an invitation he has accepted as questions about his leadership are growing among the department's rank-and-file.

“I am humbled Chief Hite will be joining me for this historic occasion,” Congresswoman Brooks said. “I’ve extended this invitation in recognition of the outstanding work being done by IMPD and law enforcement throughout Indiana and the nation. Chief Hite and his fellow IMPD officers work day and night to keep Indianapolis residents safe and sound. Their peers from coast to coast serve with bravery and distinction to safeguard our communities. As our nation’s leaders gather to set our priorities for the future, I am proud to take this opportunity to celebrate the courage, integrity and sacrifice of our law enforcement community.” 

"It is truly an honor to receive this invitation from Congresswoman Brooks and to have the opportunity to represent the brave men and women of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department in our nation’s capital,” Chief Rick Hite said. “Our federal partners and nation’s leaders are key to our sustained effort to serve and protect the citizens of this great city. I am humbled and honored by this opportunity.”

Within the ranks of IMPD's more than 1,500 officers, there are many who wish Hite would just stay in Washington permanently. The furor over the alleged cover up of a high-ranking police officer false reporting and testing positive for alcohol after a citizen phoned police to report him driving his police car erratically and ignoring traffic lights is growing. Sources say morale within the department is reaching new depths after details of this incident spread among rank-and-file officers. Attempts to obtain a copy of the police incident report proved unsuccessful despite the existence of a computer aided dispatch report documenting the events of December 20, 2014. Unless Public Safety Director Troy Riggs investigates and explains the actions of all involved in failing to follow the department's professional standards, including taking any appropriate disciplinary action, confidence in IMPD's leadership will only continue to erode.