GARY—A Gary police officer pleaded with the city’s civil service commission to keep his job Thursday after being recommended for firing.
“I’m asking for a chance. I can be effective,” Patrolman Raymond Robinson told the Gary Police Civil Service Commission.
Robinson, with his lawyer, Russell Brown, asked the board to ignore a recommendation by a hearing officer who determined Robinson should be fired for using a department computer to search for personal information on a confidential informant.
“Robinson’s continued employment is a liability to the department by placing a tremendous burden on the department,” hearing officer Carrie Castro wrote in her recommendation.
At his disciplinary hearing last fall, Robinson admitted he obtained information about a witness involved in the federal investigation of drug and weapons sales by now-convicted former Gary officer David O. Finley. Both federal and state agencies investigated the incident after the witness reported receiving death threats. As a result, Robinson is banned for life from accessing criminal information on national and Indiana databases.
The appeal hearing began with a lengthy discussion regarding Brown’s motion to dismiss the charges. He complained he wasn’t notified that the commission had the matter on its agenda in December, and showed proof he had submitted his motion within the board’s time constraints. Commission attorney Rinzer Williams said the board would consider Brown’s request during deliberations.
Brown’s other argument focused on the time period between the date of the incident and submission of the verified complaint by then-chief Wade Ingram. Robinson conducted his computer search in February 2013, but was not charged through the commission until Oct. 22, 2013. Commission rules state that “disciplinary proceedings must be commenced within 120 days from the date the alleged misconduct is discovered.”
Robinson was transferred out of patrol and moved to the police garage in February 2013, but assistant city attorney Rodney Pol told the board the transfer was not a disciplinary move directly related to the computer incident, noting Robinson was the target of three investigations at that time.
In his closing statement, Pol said Robinson’s computer restrictions prevent him from performing his duties and should be fired.
But Robinson stood before the commission and said, “I made a mistake. I wish I could take it back. I put my life on the line for this job and I hate to lose it because I was pushing some buttons.”
Williams said the commission should have a decision at the next regular meeting in March.
