The trial date has been delayed, again, for a former western Iowa cop who’s accused of robbing a bank. The trial of Richard Dean Swope has been delayed for the third time in less than four months. The 40-year-old Atlantic man allegedly robbed the First National Bank in Anita on August 8th. During the incident, Swope ordered the bank manager to the floor. When the manager hesitated, Swope fired a round from a 40-caliber handgun, but no one was injured. Swope served as Anita’s Chief of Police from 1993 to 1996. He also served as an officer in several other southwest Iowa police departments over the past ten years. He was terminated from his last job with the Corning police force in 2003. His attorney requested the trial delay to allow time for Swope to undergo medical and psychiatric evaluation. The government was not opposed to the move, and the case now heads to court February fifth.
