BROWNSBURG — Chief of Police Steve Carroll was demoted to captain in the Brownsburg Police Department earlier this week.
The Board of Police Commissioners voted unanimously to remove Carroll from the position following a special meeting on Wednesday.
Carroll has been with the Brownsburg Police Department for more than 30 years, starting his career in 1974 as a reserve officer.
A representative from his office said he could not comment on the action taken by the police commission.
Calls to Police Commission President Ray Kotarski were not returned as of press time and commissioner Stan Comer said he had no comment on the situation.
However, Kotarski spoke with WXIN Fox 59 and said, “I have had discussions personally with Steve relating to transition and change in this position. At this point, we are here tonight to allow the commission members to discuss their desires with regard to transition in this position.”
Former police commissioner Ken Roe said the actions taken by the commission are political in nature. Roe served on the commission from 2007 through the end of ‘09.
“It is totally political, not performance-related,” Roe said.
The police commission has five members, all of which are appointed by the town council. Commission members are Tom Garrison, Comer, Kotarski, Daniel Frisby, and town council representative Dwayne Sawyer.
Because the town council appoints police commissioners, Roe said they can appoint commissioners who will “adhere to their will.”
“I personally believe what they did to Steve was poor leadership,” he said. “It also reflects on the population of the town of Brownsburg because they appointed those leaders. I am disgusted with the situation.”
This is not the first time Carroll’s position as chief was in question. In Brownsburg, chiefs of police are appointed each year.
According to an article in the Hendricks County Flyer published in January of 2008, town council members voted on whether to keep Carroll as chief. However, according to Indiana Code, they discovered that it wasn’t their decision to make and they had to adhere to whatever decision the police commission made, which was to keep Carroll on as chief. Even though they did not need to vote to approve the commission’s decision, they voted anyway and at that time, members Gary Hood, Bill Guarnery, and Bill Sibbing voted to keep Carroll on as chief, Matt Bowles voted against it, and then-member Ronna Jessen abstained.
For that reason and because of recent police commission appointments, Roe said he wasn’t surprised to see Carroll’s demotion.
“There was an attempt to remove Steve in the 2007-08 time frame by then-council persons Matt Bowles and Ronna Jessen,” he said. “I can’t believe (the demotion) was a big surprise, based on the realignment of the police commission, in my opinion.”
Bob Waggoner, a former police commission member and former town council member, said the decision to have Carroll step down was because of personal reasons.
“All through the year, they did nothing but brag about all the achievements (Carroll) had made, and led him to believe he was good for another year,” he said. “It’s an underhanded situation ... it’s an unjust situation, to say the least.
“(Carroll’s) done a real bang up job as far as doing things that saves the town money and made the police force better and crime’s down, and on and on. What they’ve done is not right.”
Carroll has served as police chief since Dave Galloway resigned to run for Hendricks County Sheriff in 2006.
Carroll’s demotion to captain was effective immediately. Major Mike Dove has been named interim chief, according to a press release from the department. It also said the commission will be conducting an internal hiring process and hopes to have an appointment made by the end of February.
charlee.beasor@flyergroup.com
Local News
Police commissioners demote Brownsburg chief
- Local News
-
-
Facebook page nets BPD a catch
Early returns on the Brownsburg Crime Tips Facebook page are positive as one of the suspects featured has already been identified.
-
Police investigate night time murder
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a report of a person shot at the 3100 block of N. Guilford Ave. just before 10 p.m. Wednesday.
-
Women of Influence conference to target cancer
One of life’s most ruthless opponents will be the focus of the third annual Women of Influence conference set for 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 1 at Five Star Catering at Primo West in Plainfield.
-
SWAT team ends potential hostage situation
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department SWAT team took Zachary Pipes, 18, Indianapolis, into custody Wednesday morning, putting a non-violent cap on a contentious situation.
-
Pence makes first official campaign stop in Plainfield
Mike Pence filed paperwork on Monday to officially run for governor of Indiana. Then the Republican made his first campaign stop here, at The Coachman restaurant.
-
Steuerwald leads effort to bolster human trafficking laws
Rep. Greg Steuerwald (R-Avon) co-sponsored a bill strengthening Indiana's anti-human trafficking laws that Gov. Mitch Daniels signed just in time for the Super Bowl.
-
First Lady kicks off state employee food drive
First Lady Cheri Daniels recently announced the start of the annual Hoosiers Helping Hoosiers state employee food drive. During the month of February, 60 agencies and 261 divisions throughout Indiana state government will coordinate efforts to collect non-perishable items for local food banks and pantries.
-
Shoe recycling event going on this week
The Hendricks County Solid Waste Management District says old shoes that are discarded can spend more than 200 years in a landfill before decomposing, and shoes are in great demand in third world countries.
-
Hanging with Madonna
With hundreds of millions of people throughout the world watching Super Bowl XLVI, Avon made a nice splash.
-
Pizzeria opens in North Salem
As a Tri-West High School graduate, Bob Miller knows western Hendricks County well. It's this community he's most fond of.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
