Prosecutor to Decide if Charges Will Be Filed Against Whitright
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
Whitright’s resignation letter was presented to Scott Whitaker, Warsaw police chief, just four days after Whitaker received a report Nov. 18 of Whitright having inappropriate communication with a female minor the first week of November.
Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety approved Whitright’s resignation after hearing charges against Whitright presented by Whitaker during a special meeting Wednesday night at city hall.
The female was identified as a 16-year-old Warsaw Community High School student who Whitright met while performing security at the high school the first week of November.
Whitright joined the WPD in October 2007, and his bi-weekly salary was $1,693.33.
Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety members Ernie Wiggins, Joe Thallemer, and Charlie Smith heard the charges against Whitright.
Wiggins made the motion to approve the resignation, seconded by Smith.
Whitaker said Whitright violated two of the department's personnel policies by engaging in conduct unbecoming of a police officer and negligence and disobedience of order.
“WPD is conducting a thorough and complete investigation and it is our intention to forward all of the information gathered in the process of the investigation to the Kosciusko prosecutor's office to determine what or if any charges will be filed,” Whitaker said.
Whitaker said he personally received a complaint Nov. 18 of possible inappropriate conduct involving Whitright.
An investigation was immediately initiated regarding the allegations. Whitright was placed on paid administrative leave beginning Nov. 19 following the report and initial investigation.
Whitaker said Whitright in the first week of November met the 16-year-old female student while performing security at WCHS. Whitright later obtained the minor's phone number from another 16-year-old female student and he commenced communication with the minor.
Whitaker said Whitright sent numerous inappropriate text messages via cell phone to the 16-year-old female during the first three weeks of November.
Numerous texts to the minor from Whitright were sent while he was on duty as a Warsaw police officer. The texts included asking her what vehicle she was driving so he could stop her and frisk her.
On or about Nov. 16, Whitright met the minor at one of her friend's homes where he engaged in kissing her on the lips and placing his hands around her back near her waistline.
He also had an inappropriate conversation with the minor, which was sexual in nature.
Whitaker said Whitright violated provisions of the WPD Personnel Policies Handbook. The provisions violated were that Whitright engaged in conduct unbecoming of a police officer and neglected and disobeyed orders.
Whitaker said as an officer, Whitright knowingly failed to conduct his private and professional life in such a manner as to avoid bringing himself or the department in disrepute.
He neglected and disobeyed orders in that he as an officer knowingly conducted personal business while on duty which may have interfered with the proper performance of his police duties by sending and receiving text messages from the minor while performing the functions of a patrol officer.
Joe Thallemer, board member, mayor-elect, and city council president, responded following the meeting.
“In this case we felt the resignation was an admittance that he had violated city policy, it was immediate and we have state statutes we have to abide by,” Thallemer said.
Thallemer said if the city chose to terminate Whitright, the termination could not have occurred Wednesday night. The city would had to have given Whitright 5 days to request a hearing and the process could have dragged on.
“Our board of works felt that with the charges that were leveled and his admission by his resignation that these charges had merit and this was the quickest way to take care of it,” Thallemer said.
The second phase of this, what Thallemer described as a “terrible problem,” is being moved on to the local investigators.
He said they will then forward the information they have to the prosecutor who will then make the decision if criminal charges will be filed.[[In-content Ad]]
Whitright’s resignation letter was presented to Scott Whitaker, Warsaw police chief, just four days after Whitaker received a report Nov. 18 of Whitright having inappropriate communication with a female minor the first week of November.
Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety approved Whitright’s resignation after hearing charges against Whitright presented by Whitaker during a special meeting Wednesday night at city hall.
The female was identified as a 16-year-old Warsaw Community High School student who Whitright met while performing security at the high school the first week of November.
Whitright joined the WPD in October 2007, and his bi-weekly salary was $1,693.33.
Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety members Ernie Wiggins, Joe Thallemer, and Charlie Smith heard the charges against Whitright.
Wiggins made the motion to approve the resignation, seconded by Smith.
Whitaker said Whitright violated two of the department's personnel policies by engaging in conduct unbecoming of a police officer and negligence and disobedience of order.
“WPD is conducting a thorough and complete investigation and it is our intention to forward all of the information gathered in the process of the investigation to the Kosciusko prosecutor's office to determine what or if any charges will be filed,” Whitaker said.
Whitaker said he personally received a complaint Nov. 18 of possible inappropriate conduct involving Whitright.
An investigation was immediately initiated regarding the allegations. Whitright was placed on paid administrative leave beginning Nov. 19 following the report and initial investigation.
Whitaker said Whitright in the first week of November met the 16-year-old female student while performing security at WCHS. Whitright later obtained the minor's phone number from another 16-year-old female student and he commenced communication with the minor.
Whitaker said Whitright sent numerous inappropriate text messages via cell phone to the 16-year-old female during the first three weeks of November.
Numerous texts to the minor from Whitright were sent while he was on duty as a Warsaw police officer. The texts included asking her what vehicle she was driving so he could stop her and frisk her.
On or about Nov. 16, Whitright met the minor at one of her friend's homes where he engaged in kissing her on the lips and placing his hands around her back near her waistline.
He also had an inappropriate conversation with the minor, which was sexual in nature.
Whitaker said Whitright violated provisions of the WPD Personnel Policies Handbook. The provisions violated were that Whitright engaged in conduct unbecoming of a police officer and neglected and disobeyed orders.
Whitaker said as an officer, Whitright knowingly failed to conduct his private and professional life in such a manner as to avoid bringing himself or the department in disrepute.
He neglected and disobeyed orders in that he as an officer knowingly conducted personal business while on duty which may have interfered with the proper performance of his police duties by sending and receiving text messages from the minor while performing the functions of a patrol officer.
Joe Thallemer, board member, mayor-elect, and city council president, responded following the meeting.
“In this case we felt the resignation was an admittance that he had violated city policy, it was immediate and we have state statutes we have to abide by,” Thallemer said.
Thallemer said if the city chose to terminate Whitright, the termination could not have occurred Wednesday night. The city would had to have given Whitright 5 days to request a hearing and the process could have dragged on.
“Our board of works felt that with the charges that were leveled and his admission by his resignation that these charges had merit and this was the quickest way to take care of it,” Thallemer said.
The second phase of this, what Thallemer described as a “terrible problem,” is being moved on to the local investigators.
He said they will then forward the information they have to the prosecutor who will then make the decision if criminal charges will be filed.[[In-content Ad]]
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