Carmel, Ind.—
A Carmel city merit board voted unanimously to uphold the police chief's recommendation to terminate the employment of Officer Greg Park. Officer Park anxiously awaited the decision Saturday morning. Park's attorney, Bob Turner, says they intend to appeal the decision.Officer Park has been on paid administrative leave since November, after complaints were filed against him.
Several women say he makes them uncomfortable. Those complaints are a large part of the reason Officer Park was (in effect) on "trial" Thursday and Friday before the merit board.
Fox59 News has learned through testimony that after analyzing 100 video tapes of traffic stops made by Park, the Carmel police "top brass" determined Park paid much more attention to good-looking women.
"If she was (how do you say this) not very attractive or whatever it was relatively short but with women he was there considerably longer than what he was any male that he stopped," said Major Randy Schalburg.
The five member merit board panel has also asked questions of witnesses that up until now has included the current chief of police and Major Schalburg. Maj. Schalburg claims Officer Park has repeatedly violated department procedures. Park was also accused of switching off his car recording equipment when he, for example, went inside a female's home while on duty.
"The training has been that when you stop a vehicle, the camera systems automatically activate and the body mic is to be activated," said Maj. Schalburg.
Indianapolis lawyer and former Public Safety Director Bob Turner is defending Officer Park, saying in part that similar allegations made against officers in other cities would not amount to enough evidence to fire someone.
"It's the chief's board. I expect that but that's why you have a right to appeal and we're certainly going to exercise that right," said Turner.
It's important to note that Officer Greg park has never been suspended from the department but he has been sent to counseling and was reprimanded twice since being hired in 2008.
