W. Lafayette uncovers more problems with police
WEST LAFAYETTE – The West Lafayette Police Department has more problems than the recent resignation of Matthew Fohl as chief, according to the mayor.
West Lafayette Village Council met in special session Tuesday evening to discuss issues with the department. Mayor Stephen Bordenkircher said several problems have come to light over the past few weeks that were unknown to his administration or council.
This includes policy and protocol violations by Officer Laurice Mans related to his role as K-9 handler and field training officer, the department being about $15,000 over budget on fuel and payroll, and approximately $7,000 in damages to three cruisers that were never reported to the administration.
Violations related to Mans include him still being on his probationary period after being hired when he was made the K-9 officer, not living within 30 minutes of the village, not having a five-foot fence around his home for the dog, not having a properly secured garage for the cruiser at his home and a dog bite incident that was not properly reported.
He also did not have the required number of years to be named the field training officer, which included two years of experience with the WLPD and four years experience overall. Mans has been with the department less than a year.
“I don’t know what the chief told him specifically. I know what he’s told us,” Bordenkircher said of the violations. “It appears as if a lot of that was not addressed with him.”
The public safety committee was scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday to discuss matters in more detail and possible solutions. Bordnenkircher said he’s moved department personnel back to eight hour shifts from 12 hour shifts and keeping that change is something to be decided at the meeting too.
“It’s sad and embarrassing that we have to do this, but there are things that have to be addressed and have to be addressed very quickly,” Bordenkircher said.
Council at the special session also officially accepted the resignation of Fohl, tendered Friday. He had been on paid administrative leave since July 30 related to an internal investigation by Bordenkircher’s administration. Fohl was hired in June 2020. According to a pay ordinance for 2019, the starting pay for the chief position was $40,800.
Bordenkircher said the investigation regarding Fohl is still open and he could not confirm or deny if the issues with Fohl were the same as the general problems plaguing the department.
A search committee to find a new chief has been formed and is expected to have its first meeting early next week. The committee is comprised of Council President Bo Fortune, Public Safety Committee Chairman Craig Bordenkircher, Human Resources Manager Amy Bourne and Mayor Bordenkircher.
llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com