Organization wants Jackson County to remove Nativity scene
An organization that promotes the separation of church and state wants Jackson County in southern Indiana to remove a Nativity scene from the courthouse lawn in Brownstown.
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Police probe Hamilton County Treasurer’s Office misconduct allegations
Indiana State Police are investigating an allegation that clerks in the Hamilton County Treasurer’s Office accepted past-due property payments from family members and county workers without charging late fees. The allegation was made by former employee Susan Byer in a wrongful termination suit filed last month against Hamilton County, treasurer Jennifer Templeton and deputy treasurer Kim Good.
New lawsuit says Elkhart police obstructed shooting probe
The sister of a man Elkhart police killed two years ago contends in a new lawsuit that department leaders obstructed an independent investigation of the shooting.
Split COA affirms denial of court employee’s contempt motion, awards appellate fees
A split Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of a drug court coordinator’s claims that an auditor was in contempt of court, finding the coordinator’s claims were frivolous and her excessive filings were unreasonable. As such, the majority awarded appellate attorney’s fees to the auditor.
Records: $50K settled officer racial discrimination lawsuit
Records show a former West Terre Haute police officer who appealed his firing has accepted $50,000 to settle a 2015 federal lawsuit alleging racial discrimination. Jonathan Stevens, who is black, signed an agreement in January 2017 to resolve the complaint he’d filed alleging the West Terre Haute Town Council and police chief conspired not to hire him because they allegedly said they didn’t want “his kind” working for the town.
Elkhart police chief resigns amid discipline controversies
A northern Indiana police chief who downplayed the beating of a handcuffed suspect by two officers and faced other controversies over discipline has resigned. Elkhart’s Chief Ed Windbigler said in a letter Monday that Mayor Tim Neese asked him to resign.
Sheriff wants new armored vehicle to deal with ‘threats’
A sheriff in northwestern Indiana wants to buy a $360,000 armored vehicle, but local officials are not so sure.
Appeals court remands Hamilton Southeastern rate case to IURC
A Hamilton County sewer utility rate increase case that went all the way to the Indiana Supreme Court is going back to the state agency where it originated after an Indiana Court of Appeals ruling Wednesday.
COA affirms dismissal of annexation fiscal plan challenge
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of a Dayton resident’s complaint for declaratory judgment against the town when it found meritless her assertions that a fiscal plan for a proposed annexation was “inadequate.”
Judge: Woman can’t keep pet pigs in Anderson
A judge has ruled that a woman can’t keep her three miniature pigs within the city limits of her central Indiana community. Madison Circuit Court Judge George Pancol rejected Lily Harsh’s appeal of a 2017 decision by the Anderson Board of Zoning Appeals to deny her a zoning variance to keep the pet pigs.
Elkhart police chief suspended after discipline reports
A northern Indiana police chief has been suspended 30 days without pay after revelations that two of his officers received only reprimands for repeatedly punching a handcuffed man and that nearly all of his supervisors have been disciplined at some point in their careers.
Ex-Lawrenceburg policeman loses 7th Circuit appeal over firing
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a federal court ruling for the city of Lawrenceburg in its firing of a criminally charged police officer, who claimed his termination implicated his First Amendment rights because it came after he complained about the mayor and purported wrongdoing by city officials.
Judge: Indy deputy used excessive force ‘sadistically and maliciously’
A Marion County sheriff’s deputy used excessive force against a former jail inmate “sadistically and maliciously,” a federal judge determined, ruling in favor of the inmate and ordering a determination of damages he is owed.
Order to return 5-unit apartment to single-family house upheld
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed a public works and safety board’s order that a man restore a property he uses as apartments back to a single-family dwelling after finding the home to be unsafe and sufficient evidence proved it was not a multi-family unit.
Board fires South Bend officer involved in fatal crash
A public safety board has voted to fire a South Bend police officer who was involved in a fatal car crash while on duty.
Reversal: Officer’s suit reinstated, bond requirement ambiguous
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a trial court’s grant of summary judgment to a Northeastern Indiana city when it found the lower court failed to fix a bond amount for a disciplined police officer by the time of judgment.
Glitches keep Porter County from counting votes
Officials northwestern Indiana’s Porter County, which hasn’t reported any general election votes, are sorting through a mix of problems to get ballots counted a day after the election.
Justices rule for firefighters claiming age discrimination
The Supreme Court has decided unanimously that local governments with small workforces must comply with a federal law against age discrimination.
Lake County Sheriff’s Department can’t account for missing $7,600
A northwestern Indiana sheriff’s department says it can’t account for more than $7,600 missing from one of its divisions. Lake County Police Chief William said the county Sheriff’s Department can’t account for the money that an audit by the State Board of Accounts found missing from its Civil Division last year.
2 Elkhart police officers face battery charges
Two Elkhart police officers were placed on administrative leave and will be charged with battery for repeatedly punching a handcuffed man in the face. The Elkhart police department on Friday announced the charges against officers Cory Newland and Joshua Titus.