Consolidating Confusion
Things are about to get a little bizarre with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and it hasn’t even been created yet. Republican City-County Councilmember Jim Bradford is introducing an ordinance that would take control of the new consolidated police department from the Sheriff and put it back under the Mayor. The measure will be read into the record Monday night and a hearing before the Law Enforcement Consolidation Committee will occur Tuesday. Although Democrats could block the measure at the Committee level, it could still be brought to the full council for a vote in January.
This move comes on the heels of three Republican Marion County Sheriff’s deputies being passed over for promotion to Captain. The Deputies, City-County Councilmember Lincoln Plowman, Becky Lake, the fiance of former candidate Steve Davis and Tim Mottsinger were given the wrong textbook by the Sheriff’s Department to study for the promotions exam. Deputy Doug Shefel was also given the wrong book by the Department. Sources say the three complained about the study guides, but were told it was their own fault for purchasing the wrong texts. The Sheriff would not hear their personal appeals. None of the three would comment.
Although Mayor Bart Peterson has said he would veto any measure that would put consolidation under his office, a survey of Councilors, who would also not comment on the record, revealed there are potentially enough votes, 18, to override a Mayoral veto.
