http://www.newspaperarchive.com/SiteMap/FreePdfPreview.aspx?img=113682360Gary looks at
leave policy
Suspension with pay may be premature
GARY, Ind. (AP) — The use of
administrative leave for police
officers being investigated for violation
of department policy is premature
punishment, Gary Police
Civil Service Commission members
say.
Commission members, led by
attorney Eric 0. Clark, questioned
Chief Douglas Wright about the
practice of placing officers on
leave before charges have been
filed.
"It's technically a suspension
with pay," Clark said. "The commission
is getting complaints
about this, and they're the ones
who make up the rules. They want
to know what it's all about,"
Wright said he has placed officers
on paid leave while a thorough
investigation can be conducted to
assure fair treatment.
"We're out to clear them if we
can," Wright said at a meeting
Thursday. "Why would I want to
make the department look bad?"
Fraternal Order of Police President
Gerald Clayton said officers
placed on leave are being punished
before a ruling can be made.
"You're supposed to be innocent
until proven guilty, but in this case
you're guilty until proven innocent,"
he said. "There's a better
way of doing this."
Two officers who have been on
administrative leave for three
months argued the measure is punishment
because they cannot work
overtime in the department and
are unable to obtain security-related
jobs.
City attorney Rebecca Wyatt
said overtime is not a "right" of
police officers on the department.
But Patrolman Phil Pardus, 27,
who has been on paid leave
since
January because the chief complained
about a raid Pardus participated
in, said his overtime
accounted for about $5,000 per
year.
"I have three children," he said.
"I counted on that money."
The department has 120 days
from the date of an incident to file
formal charges against an officer.