Senior cop held over drunk driving / MPD superintendent allegedly fled scene after colliding with vehicle

Written by Meenaa on Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

MITO–A 50-year-old superintendent of the Metropolitan Police Department was arrested Monday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in Inashiki, Ibaraki Prefecture.

According to the Ibaraki prefectural police, the superintendent was so drunk he could not stand up straight.

Koji Hidaka, an administrator at the Facilities Division of the MPD’s Administration Bureau, was arrested shortly after hitting another car, causing property damage and fleeing the site, the police said.

Hidaka, who lives in Ryugasaki in the prefecture, has spent most of his career in the traffic field, according to the police. He became chief of Tsukiji Police Station’s traffic division in February 2005, and after being promoted to superintendent in February 2006, he was dispatched to the Tokyo metropolitan government to take charge of a campaign to eradicate drunk driving.

Hidaka allegedly drove a car on a prefectural highway under the influence of alcohol at about 7:25 p.m.

Hidaka was quoted by the police as saying, “I certainly drove the car after drinking, but I don’t remember having an accident.”

According to the police, Hidaka’s car collided with a vehicle belonging to a 51-year-old official of the Inashiki city government after attempting to overtake him on the right. The official had been attempting to turn right at an intersection, the police said. Neither Hidaka nor the official was injured.

After Hidaka fled the site, the official followed him, and spotted his car parked at the side of a road about two kilometers from the site of the collision, the police said.

The official called the police, and Hidaka, who was seen tottering around his car, was found to be over the legal alcohol limit, the police said.

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Drinking with colleagues

Hidaka had been consuming alcohol with workmates at a recreation camp organized by Tsukiji Police Station’s Facilities Division, according to the MPD.

He was heading to his home in Ryugasaki–about 20 kilometers from the accident site–when he allegedly caused the accident. The police are investigating the circumstances that led to Hidaka getting into his car after drinking.

Hidaka has a high tolerance for alcohol and rarely shows signs of intoxication when drinking, according to sources.

According to the MPD, the Facilities Division held the first day of the overnight camp Monday. Hidaka and his colleagues held a barbeque party and started drinking at about 3 p.m.

At about 7 p.m., Hidaka left the campsite, the MPD said. About 20 minutes later, he was involved in the alleged hit-and-run accident.

Hidaka served as the chief of the Tokyo metropolitan government’s traffic safety task force for a year from March 2006, after being dispatched from the MPD, and headed a drunk-driving awareness program.

An official of the metropolitan government who got to know Hidaka during the period, said: “I saw his name on the morning news, but I couldn’t quite believe it. He was a diligent person and very serious about his work.”

Hidaka worked at the MPD’s Traffic Bureau for about five years from March 2000. A senior official of the MPD who has worked with Hidaka at the Traffic Bureau expressed surprise over the incident, pointing out that Hidaka is an expert in traffic management.

Another senior official said, “He was a mild, quiet person and was dedicated to his work.”

Eiichi Tamiya, former chief of the First Criminal Investigation Division of the MPD, said: “There’s no room for excuses as regards this incident. Of course the superintendent is open to blame for not acting appropriately in his role as a police officer, but I believe this incident symbolizes the fact that the police themselves often lack common sense.”

“This kind of scandal will obstruct police officers who are working hard to combat traffic offenses,” Tamiya added.
(Nov. 19, 2008)