Steve Filipek of Bismarck, a 36-year veteran of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, reportedly retired under pressure Aug. 29 after police say he left the scene of an accident that occurred in Van Buren County in his state-issued vehicle.
Filipek, a streams fisheries biologist, was the agency's longtime coordinator of the Stream Teams, a volunteer program that monitors water quality and improves habitat in streams all over the state.
"Every day, when our employees walk through that door, we expect their best, and we expect them to do right," said Mike Knoedl, director of the Game and Fish Commission.
"This reflects badly on the agency and its employees, and we are not going to have it."
According to an Arkansas State Police report, Filipek's state-issued Chevrolet Silverado left the road at 4:20 p.m. Aug. 25 at Scotland Formosa Road and Arkansas 336.
After leaving the right side of the road, Filipek's pickup traveled 41 feet before taking down a stop sign, the report says. The truck then crossed Arkansas 336, traveled another 67 feet, crossed a ditch and crashed through a fence, the report says.
Conditions at the time were rainy, according to the report filed by state police Cpl. Donald Stringer.
Richard Gawenis of Clinton reportedly witnessed the accident and helped Filipek get his pickup back on the road.
According to Gawenis' witness statement, Filipek said he was headed to Jonesboro and left the scene.
At 4:31 p.m., Stringer reported seeing Filipek's truck at a filling station in Choctaw at U.S. 65 and Arkansas 9.
In his report, Stringer wrote that Filipek was inspecting his damaged windshield. Stringer noted that Filipek appeared normal and unimpaired. The vehicle's airbag had not deployed.
Stringer wrote that Filipek said he was on an unfamiliar road and unexpectedly came upon a stop sign.
"I wasn't texting; I wasn't really speeding," the trooper's report quotes Filipek as saying.
Filipek reportedly said he had texted his supervisor about the accident, but the supervisor was in a meeting.
He then asked Stringer what he should do.
Stringer said he later visited the scene of the accident and reported that it was more serious than Filipek's account reflected. The damage to Filipek's vehicle was estimated at $4,000.
On Aug. 29, Knoedl reportedly handed Filipek a termination notice, and Filipek asked if he could retire instead.
"I thought that was fair," Knoedl said. "People think you lose your retirement if you get fired, but that's not true."
Attempts to contact Filipek were unsuccessful.
Metro on 09/12/2014