UPDATE:
CBS 21 News has obtained the controversial picture of recently fired Fairview Township Police Chief Scott Hockenberry. Many people say the photo led to his firing.
Scott Hockenberry had been the police chief here in Fairview Township for a little less than a year, but after a picture of him at a bike rally with a topless woman made it to the Township Board of Supervisors, he was fired.
CBS 21 News has obtained a copy of the photo which is now being circulated around the community.
In the photo you can see Scott Hockenberry with a topless woman at the Ocean City BikeFest in Maryland on September 15th.
“We go out riding motorcycles, have a good time, like I said, it’s nothing illegal or immoral,” explained friend Mike Treaster.
Mike Treaster was the one who took the photo, and he said he just showed it to a couple friends, and it eventually made it’s way to the Township board of supervisors.
“There’s other people out there doing worse that get their wrists slapped, something this minor, I mean, no warning? It doesn’t make sense,” Treaster told us.
Scott Hockenberry’s lawyer, Ed Paskey, issued a statement to CBS 21 about the firing, saying, “Scott Hockenberry is a dedicated public servant. The township articulated no specific reason for his dismissal. Neither he, nor I are aware of any specific incident that would justify his dismissal. I look forward to digging deeper into this matter.”
Still, the photo has the community wondering if this conduct is acceptable for a person of authority.
“Police officers are held to a little bit more of a higher standard,” explained Dave Cantrell. “My dad is a retired police officer.”
“I think he should be fired for that, yes, I think it’s absolutely disgusting when someone that’s high up like that is being taking pictures like that,” commented Township resident Heather Daub.
“I think he should have had a higher standard than that and not allowed that stuff to be seen. If he’s gonna do it, keep it personal,” Cantrell added.
Others say that what you do on your own time is your own business.
“He doesn’t have his uniform on, he’s on vacation!” exclaimed Pat Richards. Along with Pat, Stacy Anderson and Fred Anderson both do not believe he should have been fired for the picture.
“First simple fact, the man is not in uniform. Even though he’s a police officer and he’s continuously on duty,” another resident, Ron, told us. “The man was just having a good time, didn’t offend anybody, and his friends took the picture, he didn’t.”
“I know he’s in a position of authority but, you’ve got to have a little bit of downtime for yourself,” Fred Anderson told us.
We reached out to the Township Supervisor and he had no comment.
The next Township meeting is on December 3rd at 7 p.m., and Scott’s friends are asking for the community to join in support.
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The Fairview Township Board of Supervisors fired the Police Chief in Fairview Township for behavior unbecoming of an officer, but some people in the township believe he did nothing wrong.
This controversy all erupted after Scott Hockenberry went to a motorcycle rally and got a picture taken where a woman in the background was flashing the camera.
The picture made it’s way into the hands of the Township Board of Supervisors, and they later fired him.
Christina Conley, Friend of Scott Hockenberry:
“You can’t control what a girl from Ohio is doing in the background. You can’t control that, and I feel that this is a witch hunt.”
Scott Hockenberry had been the police chief of Fairview Township for just under a year, but after a picture got into the hands of the township board of supervisors, he was fired.
Mike Treaster, Friend of Scott Hockenberry:
“We go out riding motorcycles, have a good time, like I said, it’s nothing illegal or immoral.”
The picture was taken at the Del Mar bike rally in Ocean City Maryland. Friends and supporters of Hockenberry say that he did nothing illegal, he was not wearing his uniform or on duty, and that he would never do anything to jeopardize his job.
Ken Sober, Friend of Scott Hockenberry:
“He’s a great guy. He would do anything for anyone and he’s not somebody that would take advantage of any situation. He always does the right thing.”
Now his friends are trying to find answers and hoping they can get to the bottom of this.
Treaster:
“There’s other people out there doing worse that get their wrists slapped, something this minor, I mean, no warning? It doesn’t make sense.”
Friends are asking for the community to join in support of Scott Hockenberry at the next Township meeting on December 3rd at 7 PM.
CBS 21 News has obtained the controversial picture of recently fired Fairview Township Police Chief Scott Hockenberry. Many people say the photo led to his firing.
Scott Hockenberry had been the police chief here in Fairview Township for a little less than a year, but after a picture of him at a bike rally with a topless woman made it to the Township Board of Supervisors, he was fired.
CBS 21 News has obtained a copy of the photo which is now being circulated around the community.
In the photo you can see Scott Hockenberry with a topless woman at the Ocean City BikeFest in Maryland on September 15th.
“We go out riding motorcycles, have a good time, like I said, it’s nothing illegal or immoral,” explained friend Mike Treaster.
Mike Treaster was the one who took the photo, and he said he just showed it to a couple friends, and it eventually made it’s way to the Township board of supervisors.
“There’s other people out there doing worse that get their wrists slapped, something this minor, I mean, no warning? It doesn’t make sense,” Treaster told us.
Scott Hockenberry’s lawyer, Ed Paskey, issued a statement to CBS 21 about the firing, saying, “Scott Hockenberry is a dedicated public servant. The township articulated no specific reason for his dismissal. Neither he, nor I are aware of any specific incident that would justify his dismissal. I look forward to digging deeper into this matter.”
Still, the photo has the community wondering if this conduct is acceptable for a person of authority.
“Police officers are held to a little bit more of a higher standard,” explained Dave Cantrell. “My dad is a retired police officer.”
“I think he should be fired for that, yes, I think it’s absolutely disgusting when someone that’s high up like that is being taking pictures like that,” commented Township resident Heather Daub.
“I think he should have had a higher standard than that and not allowed that stuff to be seen. If he’s gonna do it, keep it personal,” Cantrell added.
Others say that what you do on your own time is your own business.
“He doesn’t have his uniform on, he’s on vacation!” exclaimed Pat Richards. Along with Pat, Stacy Anderson and Fred Anderson both do not believe he should have been fired for the picture.
“First simple fact, the man is not in uniform. Even though he’s a police officer and he’s continuously on duty,” another resident, Ron, told us. “The man was just having a good time, didn’t offend anybody, and his friends took the picture, he didn’t.”
“I know he’s in a position of authority but, you’ve got to have a little bit of downtime for yourself,” Fred Anderson told us.
We reached out to the Township Supervisor and he had no comment.
The next Township meeting is on December 3rd at 7 p.m., and Scott’s friends are asking for the community to join in support.
___________________________________________
The Fairview Township Board of Supervisors fired the Police Chief in Fairview Township for behavior unbecoming of an officer, but some people in the township believe he did nothing wrong.
This controversy all erupted after Scott Hockenberry went to a motorcycle rally and got a picture taken where a woman in the background was flashing the camera.
The picture made it’s way into the hands of the Township Board of Supervisors, and they later fired him.
Christina Conley, Friend of Scott Hockenberry:
“You can’t control what a girl from Ohio is doing in the background. You can’t control that, and I feel that this is a witch hunt.”
Scott Hockenberry had been the police chief of Fairview Township for just under a year, but after a picture got into the hands of the township board of supervisors, he was fired.
Mike Treaster, Friend of Scott Hockenberry:
“We go out riding motorcycles, have a good time, like I said, it’s nothing illegal or immoral.”
The picture was taken at the Del Mar bike rally in Ocean City Maryland. Friends and supporters of Hockenberry say that he did nothing illegal, he was not wearing his uniform or on duty, and that he would never do anything to jeopardize his job.
Ken Sober, Friend of Scott Hockenberry:
“He’s a great guy. He would do anything for anyone and he’s not somebody that would take advantage of any situation. He always does the right thing.”
Now his friends are trying to find answers and hoping they can get to the bottom of this.
Treaster:
“There’s other people out there doing worse that get their wrists slapped, something this minor, I mean, no warning? It doesn’t make sense.”
Friends are asking for the community to join in support of Scott Hockenberry at the next Township meeting on December 3rd at 7 PM.