‘That man failed his oath:’ Springfield Police Chief speaks for first time since motorcycle crash involving former officer

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) – Days after being hurt in a motorcycle crash, Trevor Hopkins stood up and spoke before Springfield City Council Tuesday night.

“I may be here, but Chelsey is not, and that’s the problem,” Hopkins said.

Police say former Springfield Police Sgt. Michael Egan hit Hopkins and Chelsey Farley while the two were riding a motorcycle last Thursday . Egan has been charged with Aggravated DUI Causing Great Bodily Harm .

“Something about that man driving that night wasn’t correct,” Hopkins said. “And I know every single one of you knows it, because the other five officers over there helping him, seems a little fishy to me,” Hopkins said.

Springfield Police Chief Ken Scarlette spoke publicly at the city council meeting for the first time since the crash, condemning Egan’s actions.

“He took an oath like I did, to protect and serve our citizens,” Scarlette said. “That oath doesn’t end the day that you retire. That oath is something you take with you to your grave. That man failed his oath. That man embarrassed the profession of law enforcement.”

Posts that have circulated on social media suggest officers who responded to the motorcycle crash gave Egan preferential treatment. The posts and videos allege officers gave Egan water, and smiled and joked while talking to Egan.

Scarlette apologized to the family for how the officers who responded on scene acted the night of the crash, and has promised a full and transparent investigation into how his officers responded.

“I apologize for the lack of compassion and the lack of empathy that was displayed on scene that day,” Scarlette said. “I apologize for the lack of scene management that was on display that day.”

Caitlyn Weiss, Farley’s sister, attended Tuesday’s city council meeting. She said Scarlette has been sincere and genuine.

“Scarlette renewed a lot of the faith that I have in the police department as long as he continues to keep all those promises, which is the point for everybody, but he did. He has kept his word to me,” Weiss said.

Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher did not speak at all during the meeting or to reporters afterwards. She and Scarlette met with Farley’s family Monday.

Afterwards, Buscher’s office released a video on social media Monday saying she waited to speak with the family before commenting on the case.

“She couldn’t state the other victim’s name,” Weiss said about the mayor’s video. “She didn’t bother to do anything but spell the GoFundMe for half of the video. It just seemed really insensitive to look like a zombie and stare at a prompter, but also not really say anything for two minutes.”

Egan made his first court appearance Tuesday and was released from the Sangamon County Jail with conditions. That includes not driving, not drinking, and not going to businesses that serve alcohol.

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