Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety Friday approved a request from Warsaw Police Chief Perry Hunter to dismiss WPD Sgt. Brad Kellar from his duties.
Board members Jerry Patterson and Charlie Smith approved the recommendation.
"I've reached the determination that Sgt. Brad Kellar has violated protocol set forth by department policy and I respectfully request the board accept my recommendation for the immediate dismissal of Sgt. Brad Kellar," Hunter said.
Kellar has been employed with the Warsaw Police Department since 1999.
Hunter said Kellar did not violate any federal or state laws, but violated WPD departmental policies.
"Based on an investigation that I've conducted, Brad Kellar has violated WPD policies and procedures which have resulted in his dismissal," Hunter said.
Hunter said because it was an internal investigation, at the advice of city attorney Mike Valentine, he said he was not at liberty to provide further details of the investigation.
Valentine said, according to statute, Kellar would need to request a hearing within five days, by Wednesday, if he wanted to appeal the case.
If Kellar does not want to appeal the case, the notice Valentine prepared for the board to sign indicating Kellar's dismissal will be effective as of Friday when the board approved it.
Hunter said he will deliver a letter to Kellar advising him of his rights, and if he does not submit a request for a hearing by Wednesday, then the decision by the board will be final.
Hunter said the department's review board is currently in the replacement process. He said there are applications scheduled for interviews and the applicants have been through a written and physical agility test.
"We will continue the hiring process and hope to fill the position as soon as we can," Hunter said.In other business, Brian Davison, Warsaw Wastewater Treatment Utility manager, presented a trophy to Duane Griner, Warsaw Wastewater Treatment Utility pretreatment coordinator.
Griner received the award from the Indiana Industrial Operators Association for winning the wastewater pretreaters operator challenge. Griner received first place at the competition held at the Valley Vista Convention Center in Greenwood in April.
Griner will have the award for six months before returning it to the association to be awarded next April.
There were two other team members on Griner's team from Anderson and Angola.
"Pretreatment committee members never have won the award in the past, it usually goes to industrial consultants so it is an honor," Griner said.
Griner has been with WWTU for five years as the pretreatment coordinator.
The board also:
- Approved a request from the building and planning department for $5,000 to US Infrastructure for the Argonne Road/Parker Street corridor contingency fund. Engineering Technologies is requesting an additional release of $5,000 to cover the cost of present and future Michiana Area Council on Governments meetings.
- Approved a $4,500 contract for Warsaw Street Department and VIM Recycling Inc., Elkhart, for fall brush grinding services.
- Approved a contract for the Warsaw Parks Department and Q & K Carriage Rides, Middlebury, for the annual Christmas Countdown on Fridays in December in downtown Warsaw.
