2025 07-01 Police Merit Board Meeting Minutes

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JULY 01, 2025 10 F. ACKNOWLEDGE APPLICATION AND DECLARATION FOR RETIREMENT ROBERT DELEE Chief Ruszkowski submitted a letter of application and declaration for retirement for Officer Robert DeLee. He is retiring in good standing from the SBPD, effective July 19, 2025. He has been with the Department for two (2) years and eight (8) months. Chief Skibins asked the Board to join him in wishing him success in his new endeavors, Along with thanking him for his years of service with the SBPD. The Board acknowledged the application and declaration for retirement. G. STATUS OF RICO BUTLER AND DETERMINATION OF BACK-PAY Attorney Kylie Connell asked the Board to vote on whether suspended Officer Rico Butler would receive back-pay after the State motioned to dismiss his charges of two (2) Level rdth five (5) felonies on June 23 and June 24 of 2025 (IC 35-34-1-13). She stated that although the charges were dismissed, it is the opinion of the SBPD that the Probable Cause Affidavit is still within the purview of the merit board, and it is within their discretion to grant or deny back--pay to Officer Butler. Attorney Taylor clarified that they could vote to approve back-pay, deny back-pay, or motion to vote on back-pay at a later time after an internal investigation was further along or completed. He added the legal standard for back-pay is found in IC 36-8-3-4N in which members subject to criminal charges of the court may be placed on administrative leave, and members placed on leave without pay can be awarded back- discretion assuming the member is exonerated in the criminal courts. Upon a motion by Brantley Taylor and seconded by Ray Owens, the Board voted to delay voting on back-pay until more information from an internal investigation was available. Eugene Eyster voted nay. H. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Chief Skibins was asked to explain how promotions were selected. He informed the board on the process and selection for promotions. Chief Skibins stated a company is hired that tests for public safety. Officers with at least one (1) year on can apply for the promotion process which includes a written test provided by the company, scenario-based exercises that are also scored, and a scored oral interview process. The tests are pass/fail and those who pass all three (3) sections are added to a pool of potential candidates if a sergeant opening occurs. For lieutenant openings, the officers would have to have served at least two (2) years -- one (1) year probationary sergeant and one (1) year as an acting sergeant. They also have to complete the same testing process, but lieutenants have an extra scenario-based exercise that is more in-depth.