Warsaw Police Department Patrol Officer Eric Coburn was suspended Friday and today from his duties due to disciplinary reasons.
Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety Friday approved the request from WPD Chief Perry Hunter for Coburn's two-day suspension.
Friday was the second time in four months that a WPD employee received disciplinary action. WPD Sgt. Brad Kellar was dismissed from his duties Nov. 7 after violating protocol set forth by department policy.
Hunter said Coburn is suspended without pay Friday and Saturday and is transferred from day shift to second shift for disciplinary reasons.
"Coburn's temporary suspension is a personnel matter. He did not break any laws. I would consider it a housekeeping sort of thing where I am working on modifying behavior," Hunter said.
Hunter said Coburn has been employed as a WPD patrol officer for 28 years.
Coburn will return to his duties Sunday. He will receive a 2- percent pay cut that will be adjusted to $1,947.45 bi-weekly.
Patrol Officer Brian Hupp will be moved to first shift effective Sunday at a $1,883.60 bi-weekly salary, and Patrol Officer Timothy Whitright will be moved to third shift effective Sunday at a $1,644.16 bi-weekly salary.
The board also approved the resignation of WPD Cpl. Steve Brown.
Brown has served on the department for the past 30 years, from April 15, 1979, to Feb. 18, 2009, according to Warsaw Human Resources Director Jennifer Whitaker.
Brown took on the animal control officer position in 1992 and was promoted to corporal in 1988.
Hunter said Brown chose to resign on his own and informed Hunter in a letter Wednesday of his intentions to resign.
Hunter said there will be a process to replace Brown.
"We are mandated by the state that a city our size must have an animal control officer," Hunter said.
Patrol Officer Mike Cox, for an interim period, will fill the position effective Monday, Hunter said.
Hunter said he has published a memo within the WPD asking anyone interested in moving to the position to state their intent by noon Thursday.
He said, at that time, interviews will be conducted to fill the position.
"The department will decide as an administrative team who will best fill the position," Hunter said.
"I believe the police department will miss Steve Brown. He served for a long time and he is a friendly person and easy going," Hunter said.
Brown attended Friday's meeting, but chose to not comment on the matter.
In other business, the board approved Warsaw Police Department applying for the 2009-2010 Victims of Crime Act through the Criminal Justice Institute.
The department is requesting $50,254 in federal funds with a 20 percent cash match of $12,564, for a total program cost of $62,818.
The board also approved taxi cab permits for David Cesaretti for AA Taxi and Fast Cab.
