GREENWOOD, Ind. — Two Greenwood police officers are suspended and three others resigned after being accused of violating the department's policies and ethical standards.
The two officers suspended without pay have a disciplinary hearing set for Sept. 20.
Chief James Ison recommended both officers be terminated by the Merit Commission if the accusations are substantiated at the hearing.
The two suspended officers are accused of violating the "Information and Technology Use," "Mobile Data Center Use" and "Standards of Conduct" policies.
The three officers that resigned were also accused of violating the same policies and ethical standards, according to the chief.
Officer lawsuit
One of the officers scheduled for a hearing, Samuel Bowen, filed his own complaint against the department back in June, before the investigation.
“The entire investigation stems from me filing this lawsuit. That’s ultimately what it is,” Bowen told 13News during an interview Wednesday.
The 24-year-old officer was hired by the Greenwood Police Department in October 2020.
According to Bowen's complaint, during the time preceding the 2023 primary election in Indiana, Bowen was involved in discussions with other Greenwood residents on the Greenwood Chatter and Greenwood, Indiana Crime Tracker Facebook pages.
The court documents alleged Bowen was involved in discussions about the Greenwood Police Department's perceived lack of reporting criminal activity. The documents also say the discussions also were about alleged attempts by Mayor Mark Myers and Ison to downplay reporting of violent crime in the city.
The complaint says Bowen did not identify himself as an officer, did not appear in his uniform and his Facebook page did not identify him as an officer.
“That’s when I started hearing the rumor that Chief Ison was not happy with what I posted and even made the comment that he was going to get me for it,” Bowen said. “I was well within my constitutional rights and department policy to say what I said, and I felt like it was stuff that needed to be said.”
Bowen's said the chief gave him with a letter on the day of the primary, notifying Bowen his privilege to work as an off-duty officer was revoked. Bowen was operating a private security service during his off time and was bidding on a contract at the time.
Bowen claims Ison also removed his privilege of taking his police vehicle home at night or using it for personal transportation.
Bowen claims additional retaliation including being placed on undesirable shifts and assignments.
“Things were continuing to happen. I was still getting retaliated against. I was getting unfair assignments. I was being disparaged by my supervisors,” Bowen said.
Messages released
After filing an initial complaint against Ison and the department, Bowen claims the city obtained his instant messaging communications. Those messages were allegedly used to identify other officers he was communicating with. The communications allegedly contained prejudicial terms, and the complaint says Ison used those to recommend Bowen and the four other officers be terminated.
“Right after they got served the lawsuit, suddenly there is an investigation into me,” Bowen said.
13News received copies of the charging documents in Bowen’s disciplinary investigation.
The messages include numerous statements that many would find offensive. 13News has decided not to release them.
Bowen’s lawyer, Jay Meisenhelder, said in a statement, “Greenwood Police Chief James Ison's decision to release detailed information concerning the charges against Officer Sam Bowen is, first and foremost, simply another means by which Ison is retaliating against Officer Bowen for filing a lawsuit against the Chief and the City of Greenwood. It is also improper and inappropriate to deny Officer Bowen the due process to which he is entitled."
On Wednesday, during the interview with 13News, Bowen and Meisenhelder declined to comment on the language used in the messages.
Bowen claims in the court documents: deprivation of rights, retaliation, government liability and breach of contract. He is seeking compensation for a series of damages and attorney and court fees.
The legal team representing the city and the chief declined to comment on the pending litigation.
Ison told 13News he would not comment on the disciplinary investigation until after the hearing in September.