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player ready...Without any public discussion, the Gary Police Civil Service Commission voted to fire Raymond Robinson at its monthly meeting Thursday night.
After hearing recommendations from board attorney Rinzer Williams, the commission refused to accept evidence offered by Robinson’s lawyer, Russell Brown , in a supplemental appeal he said shows testimony by the police chief and Internal Affairs Division supervisor contradicted some facts.
Brown said after the meeting he was puzzled why the board conducted no public deliberation and offered no explanation for its decision. “It was the attorney’s recommendation and they just accepted it. One of the commissioners that voted wasn’t here for the hearing,” Brown said.
Holding up a copy of March 1, 2013, story in the Post-Tribune, Brown told the board that police administrators, including then chief Wade Ingram, were aware that Robinson had potentially violated protocol by accessing confidential police information about a witness in a federal case against now-convicted, former Gary officer David O. Finley in February of that year.
But in testimony at the hearing, city officials claim the reason Robinson was transferred out of patrol in February 2013, was unrelated to the computer issue because they didn’t know about it. The FBI and Indiana State Police conducted the investigation. “But it’s here in black and white,” Brown said. “Officers here who swear to tell the truth. But that didn’t happen..
After the meeting, Brown said he intends to file an appeal in Lake County court within the 15-day period.
In other business, the board acknowledged the retirement of Sgt. William Wood and Cpl. Cory House and resignations from Cpl. Stephen Otten and Patrolmen Steven Peek and James Flores. The board acknowledged the promotion of Justin Illyes to sergeant.
Chief Larry McKinley said there are 221 officers on the roster, 14 short of a full complement.