COLUMBUS, Ind. – Lt. Matt Harris, public relations officer with the Columbus Police Department (CPD), says that an allegation of possible wrongdoing by two CPD officers was brought to the department’s attention at the end of September 2018.
The contention was that the officers were modifying their reported on-duty hours to conceal their concurrent work at outside jobs. The department launched an internal investigation into the matter at that time and has now turned the inquiry over to a third party, the Indiana State Police (ISP).
After the conclusion of the internal investigation, one officer assumed a different position and the other is retiring. Lt, Dan Meister, a 22-year veteran, is now working in the role of a patrol officer but has no law-enforcement capacity or supervisory duties while ISP continues the inquiry to determine if any laws were violated. Sgt. Ron May, a 31-year veteran, will retire later this year.
Harris says that when the Indiana State Police investigation is concluded, more information will be forthcoming.