UPDATED: WHS Hockey Coach Arrested for Marijuana Possession

Westfield Police officials provided more details Monday on last week's arrest of Brendan Hickey, head coach of the Westfield High School Ice Hockey and Girls Lacrosse teams.

WPD Captain Clifford Autcher said that Hickey, a 31-year-old Scotch Plains resident, was pulled over for speeding at East Broad Street and Linden Avenue.

“The office detected an odor of marijuana in the car and the search yielded suspected marijuana,” Autcher said. The arresting officer then searched the car. He arrested Hickey and charged him with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana.

Hickey, a fourth-grade teacher at McKinley School, would not comment about the arrest when contacted by Patch.

Hickey has led the hockey team to a 14-3-1 record in his first year as head coach. This spring, he is scheduled to begin his third season as head coach of the WHS girls’ lacrosse team. In 2009, he guided the team to a 7-8 record and a first-round win in the state tournament, the team’s first tournament win since 2002.  The team was 9-9 last year.

Westfield Education Association President Kim Schumacher, whose organization represents Hickey in all employment-related matters, had no comment on the situation.  Board of Education spokeswoman Lorre Korecky, said Schools Superintendent Margaret Dolan has not been notified of Hickey's arrest. She said under state law, holders of teaching certificates are required to notify their superintendent of any arrest or indictment within 14 calendar days.

State Education Department spokeswoman Allison Kobus said a conviction could jeopardize Hickey’s employment as a public school teacher.

“There is a list of disqualifying offenses in N.J.S.A. 18A:6-7.1.  Included is conviction for “an offense involving the manufacture, transportation, sale, possession , distribution or habitual use of a ‘controlled dangerous substance’ as defined in the Comprehensive Drug Reform Act of 1987, or drug paraphernalia . . .,’” she said. “Individuals, including teachers, are permanently disqualified from employment in the schools if they are convicted of any of the listed offenses. Otherwise, the district needs to take action against the employee, either by filing tenure charges with the Commissioner, or dismissing the person pursuant to the contract provisions. The Board of Examiners may also take action against the employee’s certificates.  Sometimes upon conviction, the court requires the employee to forfeit his public employment and surrender his certificates.”

Hickey’s initial appearance in Westfield Municipal Court is scheduled for March 3.