BREMEN - An Indiana State Police investigation of how a gun confiscated by Warsaw Police Department wound up in a gunshop has been completed.
Trent Smith, public information officer for the Bremen ISP post, said after the investigation concluded, the case was turned over to federal prosecutors for review.
After review, federal prosecutors determined there were no federal charges to pursue, Smith said.
He said the case now will be turned over to Kosciusko County Prosecutor Dan Hampton for review.
"That's the way it usually works. It's not usually (prosecuted by) both. It's one or the other," Smith said.
He was unsure if the case already had been turned over to Hampton, but said if it hadn't, it likely would be by the end of next week.
Hampton said this morning he had not yet received the case for review.
The case involved former WPD Lt. Joe Stanley, who was being investigated in connection with a gun that was confiscated during a WPD investigation.
Stanley allegedly took a gun that was part of a stolen credit card case. The gun was purchased with a stolen credit card and confiscated by police. However, the firearm was not checked into police evidence. Later, the gun was traded in at a local gun shop.
The confiscated gun was purchased by an individual and later traded in at another gun shop in Warsaw.
The gun was then purchased by then-WPD Chief Perry Hunter, who is a gun collector. After buying it, Hunter noticed it was similar to one confiscated by the WPD.
When he checked the gun's serial numbers, it was confirmed to be the same gun. Hunter then called ISP to investigate.
Two WPD officers, Tony Faucett and Stanley, resigned their ranks as lieutenants in July 2009 for personal reasons during the investigation.
At the time, Hunter said their decisions to lower their ranks were not the result of any reprimand or internal investigation.
Neither Faucett nor Stanley remain with WPD today.
On Sept. 1, 2009, Stanley resigned from WPD and has since moved out of Indiana.
On Sept. 4, 2009, Hunter made a recommendation for Faucett's termination during a meeting of the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety, citing neglect of duty, disobeying orders and other violations.
Faucett was suspended with pay pending a hearing on the issue of termination set for Sept. 30, 2009.
Following the Sept. 30 hearing, instead of termination, Faucett was allowed to retire.
