Benjamin v. City of Gary

281 N.E.2d 109, 151 Ind. App. 651, 1972 Ind. App. LEXIS 864
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 19, 1972
DocketNo. 1171A237
StatusPublished

This text of 281 N.E.2d 109 (Benjamin v. City of Gary) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Benjamin v. City of Gary, 281 N.E.2d 109, 151 Ind. App. 651, 1972 Ind. App. LEXIS 864 (Ind. Ct. App. 1972).

Opinion

Sharp, J.

This is an appeal from an adverse decision against the Plaintiff-Appellant, George J. Benjamin, Jr., on his Petition for Reinstatement following dismissal from the Police Department of the Defendant-Appellee, City of Gary, Indiana.

Prior to October 28, 1968, Benjamin was employed as a policeman by the City of Gary, Indiana, and on that date was dismissed by order of the Gary Police Civil Service Commission.

On July 22, 1968, the Chief of Police of the City of Gary sent the following letter to the Police Civil Service Commission of Gary:

“TO: POLICE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION FROM: James F. Hilton, Chief, Gary Police Department Subject: Charges against George J. Benjamin Jr., Police
Officer, City of Gary, Indiana.
Gentlemen:
I have, as of this date, suspended Officer George J. Benjamin Jr. from pay and duty as a Police Officer of the City of Gary, Indiana. I hereby charge Officer Benjamin as follows:
Charges
I Violation of state, statutes, (sic) to-wit: breach of an officer’s duty to detect and arrest offenders, per Acts 1905, ch. 129, Sec. 164, P. 219 and others;
[653]*653II Violation of Civil Service Commission Rules:
2. Neglect of duty.
3. Violation of police rules, as set forth infra;
4. Neglect or disobedience or (sic) orders;
5. Incapacity;
6. Breach of discipline;
III Violation of Police Rules:
Disciplinary Rule 7 — Incapacity or inefficiency in the service;
16 — Making false official reports;
41 — All property or money taken on suspicion of having been feleniesly (sic) obtained, or of being the proceeds of crime and all stolen or other property seized by members of the police force shall be deposited with the property clerk;
General Rule 14 — A policeman is required to arrest without a warrant any person whom he has reasonable ground to believe has committed a foleny, (sic) or is attempting to commit afolony (sic).
Specifications
1. Failure to investigate a felony, to-wit, the purchase of dangerous on 4-9-68 by an informant;
2. Failure to report a felony to superior officer from its commission on 4-9-68, supra, until 27 June 1968.
3. Failure to inform a superior officer of an in- (sic)
4. Failure to report the loss or disappearance of evidence (drugs) on 4-9-68 until 6-27-68 to a superior officer.
5. Failure to report the miration of evidence, to-wit dangerous drugs, and their seizure by another law enforcement body, the Chicago Police, from the time or apprisal on or about 4-12-68, to a superior officer 6-27-68.
6. Failure to report to a superior officer the operation and continuing nuisance of a vice operation deterimental (sic) to the health, welare (sic) and moral (sic) of the people of Gary, to-wit, sale of drugs [654]*654at the Christy restrurant (sic) (above this location) from 4-9-68 until 7-3-68.

Kindly cause a hearing on said charges to be set pursuant to law.”

A copy of this letter was served on the Appellant and was received by him.

On October 23, 1968, the Police Civil Service Commission scheduled a hearing for October 31, 1968, and sent notice of the same to Appellant by certified mail which was received by him.

On the 21st of October, 1968, Benjamin filed a Petition for Dismissal of the charges alleging: “That the notice given the petitioner is defective in that it does not comply with Rule D-5 of the Rules of the Civil Service Commission wherein said Rule requires that a day for the trial before the Commission shall be named in the notice. That the failure of the Board to bring this matter to trial for a period of over three months is in violation of Rule D-5; which rule requires that ‘trial of charges shall be conducted at the earliest possible date thereafter.’ That there have been numerous meetings of the Commission since the date these charges were filed, i.e., July 22, 1968, and at none of them has the trial of the petitioner been set. That the delay has been prejudicial to the petitioner, has caused him great financial hardship, has prevented him from obtaining employment and has placed an unwarranted burden upon his family.”

On the prescribed date of the hearing the Commission convened and Benjamin appeared in person and by counsel. At the hearing Benjamin filed another Motion to Dismiss and declined to take part in the hearing. The Commission proceeded with the hearing and called witnesses and took testimony.

On November 25, 1968, the Commission entered Findings of Facts and order discharging Benjamin from the Police Force. On November 29, 1968, Benjamin filed his appeal in [655]*655the Circuit Court alleging that the Commission had violated its own rules in dismissing him.

After a change of venue and other proceedings the trial court entered a judgment in favor of the Appellee, City of Gary, and against Benjamin from which a Motion to Correct Errors was filed and overruled resulting in this appeal.

The only issue presented for our review is whether or not the Police Civil Service Commission of the City of Gary complied with the statutory requirements in dismissing Benjamin from the Gary Police Force.

Rule D-l of the Rules of the Police Civil Service Commission reads as follows:

“All charges shall be grounded upon facts which occurred not later than thirty (30) days prior to the date of the filing of such charges unless it is shown in connection with the filing of the same and recited therein that the fact or facts giving rise to the particular charge or charges was concealed and upon discovery thereof the filing of the charges was made within thirty (30) days thereafter.” (Emphasis added)

Rule D-5 reads as follows:

“Upon the filing of charges toith the Commission or its secretary the person concerned shall be notified in writing as to the filing of the same and that such person shall stand for trial before the commission on a day to be named in the notice, which notice shall be served upon the person or if said person cannot be found then at his last and usual place of residence, a like and further notice shall be placed upon the police bulletin board. Trial of charges shall be conducted at the earliest possible date thereafter and may be conducted at any regular meeting of the commission or special meeting of the commission called for the purpose of such trial. On the date set for trial no continuance shall be granted either to the City of Gary or person preferring the charges or to the accused, unless such a continuance is necessary to prevent injustice to the accused or other persons concerned with said trial.

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Related

City of Evansville v. Nelson
199 N.E.2d 703 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1964)
Bellam v. City of Fort Wayne
274 N.E.2d 274 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1971)
Wiebke v. City of Fort Wayne
263 N.E.2d 379 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1970)
City of New Albany v. Whiteman
234 N.E.2d 646 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1968)
Lloyd v. City of Gary
17 N.E.2d 836 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1938)
Coleman v. City of Gary
44 N.E.2d 101 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1942)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
281 N.E.2d 109, 151 Ind. App. 651, 1972 Ind. App. LEXIS 864, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/benjamin-v-city-of-gary-indctapp-1972.