Major changes at ZPD in 2011 [Zionsville Times Sentinel, Ind.]
By Matt Werner, Zionsville Times Sentinel, Ind. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Former ZPD Chief
The petition for the subpeona stated that ISP Det.
ISP specifically asked the sheriff's department to "deliver any and all information, documents or things (specifically excluding any health related documentation) contained within Dowden's personnel file maintained at the sheriff's office, including, but not limited to: his hire date, his date and reason for termination, his record of training received, his job duties and the rank(s) he held, in compliance with and in satisfaction of the Prosecutorial Subpeona issues, and for all other relief that is just and proper in the premises."
On
The investigation started in mid-November of 2010 after state police received information from someone ISP said it believes to be a credible source. ISP presented the information to a judge and obtained two search warrants to look for a TV allegedly taken from the ZPD evidence room to Dowden's home, and for Dowden's .45 caliber handgun. The search warrants also covered video surveillance tapes of police headquarters from
Dowden returned to work on
In June, Dowden was still under investigation by the
"They talked to virtually everyone in the department," Harris said. Harris is also president of the
Harris said the town council members felt like they needed to do something.
"We were frustrated and some council members had different opinions on how to proceed," he said.
The council's consensus was that there may be violations within the town's protocol and general procedures within the police department that may not be criminal, so they decided to hire an unbiased third party to conduct the internal investigation, Harris said.
The council hired Ogletree Deakins Law Firm, a labor and employment firm out of
Knox, Captain
At the same time as the Dowden investigation,
The car, a 2007 Nissan 350Z, was traded in to help pay for a 2010 Ford F150 pickup truck, used by Dowden. The truck was towed
According to the ISP search warrant affidavit, the Nissan was confiscated as one of three cars involved in the
The Nissan was originally owned by
According the emails obtained by the state police and included in the affidavit, Anderson told the insurance company that the police department was waiting for a forfeiture hearing and was seeking ownership of the car. He also told the insurance company that the costs associated with keeping and forfeiting the car would exceed the car's value.
As a result of Anderson's conversations with the insurance company, Liberty Mutual agreed to transfer a salvage title -- a title issued when damage to the vehicle exceeds 70 percent of value -- to the town for the Nissan. The state issued the title to the
Criminal charges were then filed against Anderson on
Andersonallegedly admitted to an investigator that he did not understand the forfeiture process, but still told an insurance company
Andersonwas charged with conversion, a class A misdemeanor, but can be elevated to a felony.
Andersonresigned
The department is hoping to promote a patrolman to the detective position to replace Anderson.
During a
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(c)2012 Zionsville Times Sentinel (Zionsville, Ind.)
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