As a member and leadership of City Council, I have reached the conclusion that Chief Bolin’s actions or lack of proper investigatory procedures has dealt serious consequences to the taxpayers’ of our community.  Not only the tort claim issue and legal expense associated with the court action but a more hideous aspect, now the world knows that our City must totally disregard the civil rights of individuals, their inherit rights under the 4th amendment and knowing that one can’t live peacefully in their homes without the treat of undo and irresponsible actions of their police department, especially the elderly . . my Lord, Ms Milan is an elderly lady and the child was of tender years . .the two sectors of our society that depends on law enforcement to provide and defend their rights and safety, but as the Seventh Circuit clearly demonstrated in their review, our EPD failed miserably.  I have reviewed the video tape not only the immediate action of our EPD but the preamble to the event which confounds understanding . . the moments just prior to the invasion, the participates appear to be in a festive mood which is concerning and troubling.  Why are they festive? Well, the culture of festivity must  lay on the threshold of our leadership which is Chief Bolin and ultimately our Mayor.

Consequently, in order to restore faith and confidence in our police department and support the rank and file, Chief Bolin must step down immediately and if our Mayor refuses to ask for his resignation, this is paramount of condoning the lack of leadership of Chief Bolin . . .this is regrettable but necessary to restore the confidence that our EPF once processed.

John E. Friend
VP of the Common Council of Evansville, IN

City Councilwoman for Evansville’s Third Ward, Stephanie Brinkerhoff-Riley, called today for Chief Bolin to resign his position as the Chief of the Evansville Police Department.

In making the call, Brinkerhoff-Riley stated, “The 7^th Circuit decision that the EPD’s mistakes during the Milan raid were not reasonable and don’t warrant immunity should be the final leadership mistake made by Chief Bolin. A SWAT team is potentially lethal to those they encounter. We cannot afford the potential for another raid that is not warranted. While Chief Bolin is a likeable guy, he is not qualified as an administrator. The closing or planned closings of police stations, pulling patrol officers off of assigned geographic areas to unfamiliar territory for runs, refusing to have a consistent policy on the release of body camera footage, and internal inconsistencies that have led to the low morale of officers are some of the mistakes made. The police department deserves better leadership.”