Brittany
Tyner
LAFAYETTE,
Ind. (WLFI) – A Lafayette Police Department lieutenant is demoted and suspended
for his actions during an incident last year.
It
happened on Oct. 1, 2013. Beyond that, few details are known, including what
the initial incident was and what Lt. Tom Davidson did to require a hearing of
the Lafayette Police Civil Service Commission.
News
18 was outside last week’s executive session where the commission heard
evidence and testimony related to the incident. A number of the department’s
command staff were called in to answer questions. The commission met again
Wednesday in an executive session before a public meeting to discuss the
incident. It was announced in the public meeting that Davidson was facing
internal charges of conduct unbecoming an officer and excessive use of force.
The
commission voted unanimously that Davidson was in violation of conduct
unbecoming an officer. The commission voted 3-2 that he was not in violation of
excessive use of force.
The
commission then voted on his punishment. He was demoted to officer first class,
suspended for 30 days without pay, and was put on probation for a year.
Commission
president Rick Hobbs was tight-lipped after the meeting.
“This
is the member of the department’s protected speech and protected information
because it is an employee relationship, so I’m not able to make any comments
about outcome or anything that transpired because it is protected speech,” said
Hobbs.
Davidson
and his attorney declined to make any comment to News 18.
LPD
Chief Pat Flannelly refused to comment on the situation and said the department
will issue a statement when the time is right.