Verdicts Have Been Given for Three Indiana Officers
The Police Merit Commission has come to a decision for the fate of three Evansville officers accused of excessive force. Officer Nick Henderson will receive a 21-day suspension. Sergeant Kyle Kassel will have no demotion in rank. Officer..
Last night at approximately 10:20, Trooper Ryan Johnson stopped Alexander Dugas, 25, of Vincennes, in the 600 block of North 3rd Street for driving the wrong way on a one-way street and for not wearing his seat belt. Trooper Johnson detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage during the stop and observed signs that Dugas may be impaired. After Dugas performed all the field sobriety tests he fled on foot southbound in the alley between 3rd and 4th Street. He continued to run west on Seminary Street and then south on 3rd Street. Dugas then ran east between a couple of houses in the 400 block of North 3rd. He attempted to elude Trooper Johnson by jumping over a couple of six foot fences, but he was eventually caught and arrested without further incident. Further investigation revealed Dugas had a blood alcohol content of .15%. He was taken to the Knox County Jail where he is currently being held on bond.
Arrested and Charges:
Knox County (Vincennes) – Last night at approximately 10:20, Trooper Ryan Johnson stopped Alexander Dugas, 25, of Vincennes, in the 600 block of North 3rd Street for driving the wrong way on a one-way street and for not wearing his seat belt. Trooper Johnson detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage during the stop and observed signs that Dugas may be impaired. After Dugas performed all the field sobriety tests he fled on foot southbound in the alley between 3rd and 4th Street. He continued to run west on Seminary Street and then south on 3rd Street. Dugas then ran east between a couple of houses in the 400 block of North 3rd. He attempted to elude Trooper Johnson by jumping over a couple of six foot fences, but he was eventually caught and arrested without further incident. Further investigation revealed Dugas had a blood alcohol content of .15%. He was taken to the Knox County Jail where he is currently being held on bond.
Arrested and Charges:
IS IT TRUE that today three (3) suspended Evansville Police officers will go before the Evansville Police Merit Commission to learn if they will be allowed to continue to serve the citizens of this community?
IS IT TRUEÂ the Evansville Police Merit Commission will be hearing evidence concerning the alleged misconduct of the three (3) EPD officers during an arrest of an homeless person caught burglarizing a garage several month ago? Â …we are told that the attorneys for the suspended officers will be extremely well prepared? … Police Chief Billy Bolin and his legal staff will also be prepared to state their case against the suspended officers?
IS IT TRUE many EPD officers will be listening to every comment that Evansville Police Chief Billy Bolin makes during this hearing? … how he conducts himself during this hearing will determine how he will be viewed by members of the EPD rank and file, their supporters and the general public in the future? …we were told that the remarks made by Chief Bolin in yesterdays “IN Service” training session wasn’t received very well with those in attendance?…we have also been told that Chief Bolin and his top administrators should expect the defense attorneys to aggressively challenge there leadership and management style?
IS IT TRUE that Evansville Police Chief Billy Bolin recommended officers Nick Henderson, Mark DeCamps and Marcus Craig be fired and Sgt. Kyle Kassel be demoted. …the Evansville Police Merit Commission is responsible for making the final decisions concerning the above EPD officers future employment with the EPD? Â …the hearing is expected to last at least two (2) days?
FOOTNOTE:  Todays ‘Readers Poll” question is: Do you feel that the Evansville Police Merit Commission will rule in favor of the three suspended Evansville Police officers?
Vectren Will build Two Solar Farms
Vectren unveils plans to update its energy delivery system. Those plans include two solar farms and a rate increase. The energy company wants to build a 2-megawatt plant near North High School and and another 2-megawatt plant at a yet to be…
EVANSVILLE POLICE MERIT COMMISSION
MEETING AGENDA
Thursday, February 23, 2017
8:00 a.m. Room 307, Civic Center Complex
VISIT POSEY COUNTY, INC. ANNOUNCES
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
In September 2016, the not-for-profit corporation Visit Posey County, Inc. was formed to increase the number of visitors to Posey County each year by promoting programs and services to attract tourists, visitors, corporate events, and group tours. Since its inception, the Board focused on hiring a full-time Executive Director with the goal of launching the county’s first regional marketing campaign during 2017.
The VPC, Inc. Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Kari Mobley has accepted the Executive Director position and will assume her new role on March 1, 2017.
With a BA in Public Relations and Advertising from the University of Southern Indiana, Kari has held positions with Deaconess Foundation as Publications and Events Coordinator, and Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana as Program Manager.
VPC, Inc. Board President, Jim Spann commented, “Tourism is already a vital part of the Posey County economy and yet we have really just scratched the surface of its potential. We are confident Kari is the right person to lead the sustained promotion of Posey County’s numerous attractions with the focus of consistently increasing the number of overnight guests at our Hotels, Bed & Breakfasts, Cabins, and Campgrounds. The benefits of Kari’s work and these promotional activities will ultimately be felt county-wide as tourism produces new businesses, new jobs, and new residents.â€
Go to visitposeycounty.com and learn more about Posey County and its many offerings.
ABOUT VISIT POSEY COUNTY, INC.
Visit Posey County, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation funded through an Innkeepers Tax enacted in 2014. Visit Posey County, Inc. strives to bring regional attention to the abundance of opportunities for outdoor recreation, family adventure, and immersion in remarkable culture and history to Southwest Indiana.
The mission of Visit Posey County, Inc. is to consistently grow the county’s reputation as an overnight and vacation destination. Accomplishing this mission will lead to new resident attraction that will boost the county population and stimulate new businesses that will provide new jobs and careers for county residents.
 Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill today is encouraging Hoosiers to sign up for the Do Not Call list as the first of four registration deadline approaches. Indiana residents have until midnight to register their information with the Office of the Indiana Attorney General “Do Not Call†list. This step will help you avoid calls from telemarketers beginning April 1.
As of Tuesday morning, nearly 171,200 Hoosiers have signed up for the Do Not Call list. On Feb. 20 alone, about 52,000 Indiana residents registered. The Office of the Indiana Attorney General hopes for a similar outpouring of registrations on this the first of four registration deadlines. The 171,200 is the highest total for one quarter since 2011 when 189,000 Hoosiers registered. Indiana residents who still need to sign up for the Do Not Call list can call 317-493-2349 or visit IndianaConsumer.com.
“I’m proud of our efforts to bring awareness to the Do Not Call list, but we still have one more day to get Hoosiers registered on this list. We want to see more than 200,000 Hoosiers registered,†Hill said. “Reach out to your family members, friends, and coworkers – tell a fellow Hoosier walking down the street. Make sure you and everyone you know is registered by the end of today.â€
The high volume of registrations is a product of a new telephone privacy campaign aimed at protecting Hoosiers from phone scams – “Do Not Call/Do Not Answerâ€.
This month, Hill launched his new telephone privacy campaign aimed at safeguarding Hoosiers from potential phone scams. In recent years, more and more Hoosiers have filed complaints with the Office of the Indiana Attorney General Consumer Protection Division claiming they were contacted by someone from an unknown number impersonating authority figures such as a law enforcement officer or an Internal Revenue Service agent demanding money and personal information. Often, Hoosiers get tricked into believing these phone calls are legitimate and they end up compromising their personal identity by providing sensitive information such as their social security and bank account numbers.
The “Do Not Call/Do Not Answerâ€Â campaign will be the blueprint to combat unwanted phone calls from telemarketers as well as criminals who are trying to scam Hoosiers.
Even if you’re registered on the Do Not Call list, it’s likely you’ll still receive some phone calls from random, unknown numbers. The easiest way to avoid dealing with those phone calls — whether it’s a telemarketer or someone trying to rip you off with a scam – is by simply ignoring the phone call, Hill said.
“Do Not Call/Do Not Answer is an easy concept. Sign up for the Do Not Call list and lessen your chances of being contacted by a telemarketer. Then, if you still have unknown numbers calling, do not answer,†Hill said. “If the phone call is that important, the caller will leave a voicemail, or better yet that person will text you. Don’t subject yourself to the sort of vulnerability that comes with scammers trying to swindle you over the phone, demanding credit card numbers or private information. If you don’t know the number, just don’t answer.â€
Hill stressed the idea of simply ignoring calls from unknown numbers because of the likelihood they’ll still occasionally occur even after registering on the Do Not Call list. Being placed on the Do Not Call list will eliminate most telemarketing calls. However, under Indiana law, Hoosiers on the Do Not Call list may still be contacted by certain groups such as insurance agents, newspapers, realtors and most charities.
Do Not Call list registration is free for Indiana residents and available for residential land lines, wireless numbers, prepaid wireless numbers used primarily in Indiana, and voice over internet protocols (VOIP) better known as “robocallsâ€. Registration secures your phone number’s spot on the Do Not Call list unless you move or change any of your personal information.
Do Not Call list registration deadlines occur every three months beginning with today, Feb. 21. You may register your information with the office’s Do Not Call list at any time; however, you will likely receive calls from telemarketers until the list is once again available to telemarketers.
 For example, if you miss the first registration deadline on Feb. 21, you may still register on Feb. 22 however, your number won’t be on the Do Not Call list belonging to telemarketers until July 1. This is why it’s important to register by Feb. 21, ensuring your number will be on the list effective April 1.
Whether Hoosiers are on the Do Not Call list, the Indiana Attorney General strongly advises against answering phone calls from unknown numbers – especially those with area codes from another state. If you’re receiving these calls, you can contact the office and file a complaint. If you have been contacted by someone attempting to scam you over the phone, please visit IndianaConsumer.com or call 317-493-2349.
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