BOW Approves WPD Rank Reductions
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
The board Friday approved the voluntary resignations and rank and pay reductions for Tony Faucett and Joe Stanley.
The board reviewed letters from Warsaw Police Chief Perry Hunter, who recommended the board accept the rank reductions. Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins and Hunter were absent during Friday's meeting.
The letters stated that on July 8, Stanley requested to voluntarily step down as the patrol division lieutenant to the position of patrol officer on third shift. Stanley's salary will be reduced to $1,819.75 bi-weekly effective July 31.
Faucett also requested July 8 to step down voluntarily as lieutenant of the detective division and transfer to the patrol division as a patrol officer on third shift. Faucett's salary will be reduced to $1,899.56 bi-weekly.
The board also approved Patrol Officer Timothy Whitright to receive a $1,628.20 bi-weekly salary and move from third to first shift.
Stacey Page, Lake City Radio news director, asked the board during the meeting why the officers have not been placed on administrative leave pending the completion of the investigation of the officers.
The Times-Union reported in its July 13 edition that Stanley is being investigated by Indiana State Police in connection with a gun that was confiscated during a WPD investigation.
Page said she had been informed that the officers resigned due to stress of being investigated and the length of time the investigation is taking.
City Attorney Mike Valentine asked Page who she received her information from.
"Should I say who I received my information from?" Page asked.
Valentine said that would be fine to say. Page said she had received the information from Hunter.
"If there's that much stress, then why are they on the streets working?" Page asked.
The Times-Union contacted Hunter by phone Friday. He declined to comment and said questions should be referred to Valentine.
During the meeting, Valentine said the city is aware of the investigation and it's not a city investigation, but ISP is investigating.
"With the investigation going on, the city will do nothing at this point that could possibly interfere with it," Valentine said during the meeting.
Valentine said when the investigation is completed, and the city has been given a report, the city will take whatever action is appropriate at that time.
"We don't like the length of time the investigation is taking," Valentine said.
Bob Morrison, former city councilman, said he thinks WPD needs to have an internal affairs division to deal with residents' concerns.
"We have a good police department, but I think we have too many officers who are adrenaline junkies, and when they are not doing police work they get in trouble," Morrison said. "If you keep them busy then they are good officers."[[In-content Ad]]The board also approved:
- An agreement between Warsaw Fire Department and Creative Comedy Balloon & Face Art for services at the Play It Safe Family Safety Day Sept. 19 at Central Park.
- WFD accepting a $97,404 grant from the K21 Health Foundation for a rescue training tower.
- Daniel Lowrance to serve as a part-time groundskeeper at Oakwood Cemetery.
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The board Friday approved the voluntary resignations and rank and pay reductions for Tony Faucett and Joe Stanley.
The board reviewed letters from Warsaw Police Chief Perry Hunter, who recommended the board accept the rank reductions. Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins and Hunter were absent during Friday's meeting.
The letters stated that on July 8, Stanley requested to voluntarily step down as the patrol division lieutenant to the position of patrol officer on third shift. Stanley's salary will be reduced to $1,819.75 bi-weekly effective July 31.
Faucett also requested July 8 to step down voluntarily as lieutenant of the detective division and transfer to the patrol division as a patrol officer on third shift. Faucett's salary will be reduced to $1,899.56 bi-weekly.
The board also approved Patrol Officer Timothy Whitright to receive a $1,628.20 bi-weekly salary and move from third to first shift.
Stacey Page, Lake City Radio news director, asked the board during the meeting why the officers have not been placed on administrative leave pending the completion of the investigation of the officers.
The Times-Union reported in its July 13 edition that Stanley is being investigated by Indiana State Police in connection with a gun that was confiscated during a WPD investigation.
Page said she had been informed that the officers resigned due to stress of being investigated and the length of time the investigation is taking.
City Attorney Mike Valentine asked Page who she received her information from.
"Should I say who I received my information from?" Page asked.
Valentine said that would be fine to say. Page said she had received the information from Hunter.
"If there's that much stress, then why are they on the streets working?" Page asked.
The Times-Union contacted Hunter by phone Friday. He declined to comment and said questions should be referred to Valentine.
During the meeting, Valentine said the city is aware of the investigation and it's not a city investigation, but ISP is investigating.
"With the investigation going on, the city will do nothing at this point that could possibly interfere with it," Valentine said during the meeting.
Valentine said when the investigation is completed, and the city has been given a report, the city will take whatever action is appropriate at that time.
"We don't like the length of time the investigation is taking," Valentine said.
Bob Morrison, former city councilman, said he thinks WPD needs to have an internal affairs division to deal with residents' concerns.
"We have a good police department, but I think we have too many officers who are adrenaline junkies, and when they are not doing police work they get in trouble," Morrison said. "If you keep them busy then they are good officers."[[In-content Ad]]The board also approved:
- An agreement between Warsaw Fire Department and Creative Comedy Balloon & Face Art for services at the Play It Safe Family Safety Day Sept. 19 at Central Park.
- WFD accepting a $97,404 grant from the K21 Health Foundation for a rescue training tower.
- Daniel Lowrance to serve as a part-time groundskeeper at Oakwood Cemetery.
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