Creston City Council Denies Appeal of Former Police Chief

James Christensen and another southwest Iowa police officer turned themselves into authorities on Friday, June 6, 2008 amid allegations that one raped a woman while the other stood by. (AP Photo/Iowa Department of Public Safety)

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Aug 20, 2008 at 10:19 AM CST

Story Updated: Aug 20, 2008 at 10:19 AM CST

CRESTON, Iowa (AP) - Creston's City Council denied former police chief James Christensen's appeal to keep his job during an employment termination hearing Tuesday.

Christensen and former assistant chief John Sickels are charged with second degree sexual abuse. Their trial is scheduled for Nov. 17 in Union County District Court.

Sickels is accused of raping a woman behind the bar at the Crestmoor Golf Club on April 18 while Christensen looked on. The two men were charged in June and then fired from the police department.

Court documents state that an investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation found substantial evidence demonstrating Christensen's untruthfulness. The council said that untruthfulness by a law enforcement officer is considered misconduct and proper grounds for termination.

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