Officer Joe DeCap has been a cop for more than 23 years, but his job and reputation are now on the line.
The veteran East Moline police officer learned on Tuesday that he will go in front of the East Moline Police and Fire Commission on April 24th, when witnesses will testify and evidence presented in connection with misconduct charges filed last week.
DeCap says he has hired two lawyers to help with his defense. Attorneys Doug Scovill of Rock Island and Bill Jarvis of Springfield were not present at the brief meeting to schedule a hearing date, but DeCap was there and told News 8 he intends to fight the case against him.
DeCap is charged with five counts of official misconduct and one count of financial exploitation of an elderly person.
He's accused of having cars towed to Grishams Towing, which has the towing contract with the city. The officer is accused of salvaging car parts for personal gain, and in one case, ''obligating'' two people to sell him a 2001 Jeep Cherokee he had towed for illegal parking.
He's also accused of stealing 30 thousand dollars out of his mother-in-law's account at I-H Mississippi Valley Credit Union.
Illinois State Police investigated the case. East Moline Police Chief Victor Moreno calls the arrest of one of his officers ''disappointing'' and 'upsetting''.
After evidence and testimony is presented in front of the Commission next month, DeCap could be cleared of wrongdoing, suspended, or fired.
A date for his criminal trial hasn't been set yet.