New law allows peace officer decertification

[juliana24]

South Bend Tribune.Com

January 12, 2006

New law allows officer decertification

St. Joseph County sheriff said he might use it for officer who allegedly killed girlfriend's dog.

NANCY J. SULOK

Tribune Columnist

If a police officer is convicted of wrongdoing in a court of law, he still can get a job with another police department in Indiana, even within his own community.

But a new law in Indiana could be used in some cases to keep the officer from continuing in his former line of work.It's a process known as decertification.

Sheriff Frank Canarecci said this week he will use it if former county police officer Curt Seufert is indicted by a grand jury and then convicted of a crime.

If the sheriff does, Seufert could be the first officer in the state to be decertified under the law, which took effect July 1, 2005.

It says the state's law enforcement training board can revoke a diploma, certificate, badge or other document if the officer has been:

Convicted of a felony.

Convicted of two or more misdemeanors "that would cause a reasonable person to believe that the officer is potentially dangerous or violent or has a propensity to violate the law.''

More:

http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060112/News05/601120317/CAT=News05

[f-bush]

1. About time

We have so many arrogant, smug cops around here that are always beating on their wives or girlfriends and never get into trouble around here that's it's insane. In fact our chief of police drove to a grocery store and shot his wife. Typical cop behaviour for around here.

[mikelewis]

2. This is just now becoming a law?

Boy, you'd think this would be sort of common sense.

[juliana24]

3. Thats what I thought, but the corruption has reached the lower levels

of law-enforcement ranks.

I couldnt believe that what I was reading is quite common among the police departments in America.

[mikelewis]

4. I should inform my freinds Snooky and Ray-Ray...

They're looking for work, or at least Snooky will be when he gets out. Ray-Ray, is a lifer but there is the possibility of shock parole.