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SPECIAL MEETING NOVEMBER 3 2011 55
<br />The Board of Public Safety met in a Special Meeting at 8:08 a.m. on Thursday, November 3, 2011
<br />with Board Members Patrick D. Cottrell, Bruce BonDurant, Eddie Miller, and John Collins present.
<br />Board Member Laura Vasquez was absent. Also present were Police Chief Darryl Boykins and
<br />Board Attorney Thomas Bodnar.
<br />The meeting was held in the Board of Public Works Meeting Room, 13 1h Floor County City
<br />Building, South Bend, Indiana.
<br />ADDITION TO THE AGENDA
<br />Mr. Cottrell noted the addition of the Filing of Charges 2011 -03 to the agenda.
<br />POLICE DEPARTMENT
<br />APPROVE ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE — JEFFERY CHESTER
<br />In a letter to the Board, Chief Darryl Boykins stated that Patrolman Jeffery Chester was charged with
<br />Count 1, Official Misconduct (Class D Felony), Count 11, Official Misconduct (Class D Felony),
<br />Count III, Battery (Class B Misdemeanor) Count IV, Battery (Class B Misdemeanor). Chief Boykins
<br />requested that the Board place Patrolman Jeffery Chester on Administrative Leave without pay,
<br />pursuant to IC 36- 8- 34(n), effective immediately, until the disposition of criminal charges in the
<br />trial court. Upon a motion by Mr. BonDurant, seconded by Mr. Miller and carried, Patrolman Jeffery
<br />Chester was placed on Administrative Leave without pay effective immediately.
<br />FILING OF CHARGES 2011 -03 I BRITTON ODLE
<br />In a letter to the Board, Police Chief Darryl Boykins requested the Board place Officer Britton Odle
<br />on thirty (30) day suspension from duty without pay, and a letter of reprimand be placed in her
<br />personnel file. Upon a motion by Mr. BonDurant, seconded by Mr. Miller and carried, the Chief's
<br />recommendation was approved and the following Charges were approved to be served upon Officer
<br />Odle.
<br />m FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS
<br />I . At all times during and prior to 2011 through the present, Britton Odle (Hereinafter
<br />referred to as "Officer Odle ") was an officer in the South Bend Police Department.
<br />1 Officer Odle was sent to Huntsville, Alabama for training as part of her duties as a
<br />South Bend Police Officer. She was to attend the Hazardous Device School in Huntsville from
<br />March 25, 2011 through May 6, 2011 and report back to work on May 9, 2011. During this period of
<br />time she was to be paid her regular rate of pay.
<br />3. Pursuant to City policy, the South Bend Police Department prepaid the lodging for
<br />Officer Odle, presented her with a City credit card for all gasoline purchases, and provided in
<br />advance the estimated expenses for food and laundry for $1,794.00. The maximum allowed per
<br />policy for breakfasts, lunches and laundry was $43.00 per day. Officer Odle was advised of these
<br />restrictions by email on March 4, 2011.
<br />4. A tornado hit Huntsville, Alabama on Wednesday, April 27, 2011. As a result of the
<br />damage and loss of electricity from that tornado, on April 28, 2011 the remaining classes of the
<br />Hazardous Device School which Officer Odle was attending were cancelled.
<br />5. Officer Odle checked out of her lodgings on April 29, 2011 and returned to the South
<br />Bend area late that same day.
<br />6. Although April 30, 2011 was a regularly scheduled work day for her, she did not
<br />report back to work until May 9, 2011,
<br />7. She received and cashed a pay check which included pay for working on her regularly
<br />scheduled work days of April 30, May 1, May 2, May 3, May 7 and May 8, 2011.
<br />8. On May 20th Officer Odle submitted an Officer's Report which said that because of
<br />the tornado that struck Huntsville she did not have receipts for four days that she was there. In that
<br />report she indicated that she only had estimates for meal (lunch and dinner) expenses for April 27
<br />through April 30. She also indicated in that report that she did not leave Huntsville until May 1,
<br />2011,
<br />9. On June 21, 2011, she submitted an Expense Report detailing her expenses. In that
<br />report she indicated that because a tornado hit Huntsville on April 26th, she did not have receipts for
<br />her meal expenses for April 27t11 through April 30th. She also indicated in that report that she did not
<br />leave Huntsville until May 1, 2011. According to that report from the monies advanced her, she
<br />owed the City just $145.56.
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