Pic of Board Attorney Gets Officer in Trouble

**Cidp24** · 06-22-09, 12:20 PM

So the board attorney passed out in a garbage can but the Officers involved in taking his picture are the main issue??? WTF??

Galligan apologizes for police conduct
Mayor says investigation into Wilder photos underway
By MATT THACKER
The Evening News & The Tribune

JEFFERSONVILLE IN — Jeffersonville Mayor Tom Galligan on Sunday apologized to Larry Wilder’s family for pictures taken of the city council’s attorney passed out in a trash can Wednesday morning.

Galligan said it is still under investigation who took and distributed the photographs, but Jeffersonville Police Chief Tim Deeringer confirmed they were taken by a camera issued by the police department.

“When someone becomes a police officer in the city of Jeffersonville, they take an oath to protect and serve the people of this city,” Galligan said at a press conference on Sunday afternoon. “Earlier this week, one or two officers ignored that oath and allowed their personal or political motivations to interfere with their work.”

Wilder said in an interview with The Evening News on Friday that he wanted the police officer who took the photos to apologize to his children. The apology, instead, came from the mayor.

“I apologize personally — and as mayor — to the children and family of Larry Wilder for the pain that you have endured at the hands of one or two errant officers,” Galligan said.

Galligan said he called the press conference because several citizens approached him with concerns that a similar situation could happen to them if police officers wanted to embarrass them.

He said police officers should treat everyone with “dignity and professionalism” and called the unknown officer who took the photos a “renegade.”

Galligan would not comment whether the police officer(s) involved would be disciplined. When asked if this was a matter for the police merit board to handle, he said, “it’s going to be a matter for the mayor.” However, he did have ominous words for the officer(s) involved.

“We are going to take appropriate action to ensure that no police officer will be comfortable abusing their authority again,” Galligan said.

Galligan said it may be three or four officers involved but that it is more likely one or two. Four officers responded to the call, according to police records.

Deeringer said the incident is still under investigation and that he does not know who will make the decision about what, if any, discipline the officer or officers could face.

Galligan said he has not talked to Wilder about the situation.

Wilder told The Evening News on Friday that he did not think the officer(s) responsible for taking the photos should be disciplined and would defend the officer(s) if need be.

The mayor would not comment on Wilder’s behavior other than to say that it “concerns” him and he does not like it but that the point of the press conference was to discuss the actions of the officers — not Wilder. When asked if Wilder is a public figure, Galligan said, “You could say that. Everybody’s a public figure.”

City Council President Connie Sellers, who attended the press conference, said the actions of a couple of police officers reflects poorly on the department. She would not comment on whether Wilder could be removed as the council’s attorney, saying it would be discussed by the council as a whole in executive session on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

Sellers said she believes the story would not have gained so much attention if not for the leaked photographs.

“I think it’s a bigger story with the pictures,” she said. “I think the pictures are what make the story.”

Not the smartest idea in the world on the officer's part but I think the main story should be the attorney passed out in the trash can.

**IMachU** · 06-22-09, 12:56 PM

Finally, an attorney that knows his place. Besides, didn't the officers take a pic of the attorney in his natural environment? What the prolem is??

**Captain America** · 06-22-09, 01:02 PM

Shame on those irresponsible officers for taking advantage of a poor , obviously prominant attorney passed out where all attorneys belong.......

**Ducky** · 06-22-09, 01:04 PM

This was on Yahoo news before the photographs came out. Honestly, you wind up headfirst in a trash can when you're passed out drunk, and someone NEEDS to take a pic of your idiocy to remind you to not do it again.

**Five-0** · 06-22-09, 01:27 PM

I would have noted it as evidence for his public intoxication charge.

**Terminator** · 06-22-09, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by Five-0

I would have noted it as evidence for his public intoxication charge.

Only if that state has that particular law of course. North Carolina doesn't have a public intoxiation law, for example. Not sure about Indiana.

The officer should have had a friend take the picture and release it, or him take it, email it to a friend, and then have the friend release it.

The only reason the officer got in trouble is because they don't want him taking personal pictures of someone he is dealing with on the job, AND it's the city atorney. I got in trouble once for the same thing with a local crackhead. It's stupid, but that's the way it is. However, nothing more than the officer being told not to do it should happen here.

**pgg** · 06-22-09, 07:54 PM

I'm sure we would all like to point and laugh at an attorney.

**armsmaster270** · 06-22-09, 09:13 PM

They said the officers conduct reflected on the Dept. And the Attorny's didn't reflect on the City?

Next time take the pic with your own camera

**IndianaFuzz** · 06-23-09, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by Terminator

Only if that state has that particular law of course. North Carolina doesn't have a public intoxiation law, for example. Not sure about Indiana.

Thank goodness we do have a P.I. law here!

Yeah if you are gonna take the pic with a dept. camera, those pics better be evidence. That part I agree with. But if they had just taken the pics with their own camera instead, then I see no issue.

**CTR man** · 06-23-09, 11:54 AM

The attorney is probably all butt hurt that he had a pic taken of him in his own environment. Boo freaking Hoo. Maybe next time he won't allow himself to be put in that predicament.

**TXPO710** · 06-23-09, 01:23 PM

Here You go...

**CTR man** · 06-23-09, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by TXPO710

Here You go...

Originally Posted by pgg

I'm sure we would all like to point and laugh at an attorney.

HA HA HA!!!

**TXCharlie** · 06-23-09, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by TXPO710

Here You go...

LOL, who could resist taking a picture of that?

**TXPO710** · 06-23-09, 02:32 PM

I personaly think the officers should be punished for neglecting their civic duty. I'd have set the can upright, closed the lid and called the garbage man to come collect. After all, service to the public is one of the things we're supposed to do.

**Buttercup** · 06-23-09, 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by TXPO710

Here You go...

Wow.

**pgg** · 06-23-09, 04:18 PM

That is great LMAO

**Five-0** · 06-23-09, 04:48 PM

A Motivational Poster in the making. "[Insert P.D.'s name] takes out the trash."

**Twan007** · 06-23-09, 06:31 PM

looks like in the least, he could be cited with obstructing a public highway

and then the pics could come out...

the attorney should be first and foremost apologizing for having the officers come out and "clean up" the mess he had made... then maybe he would get an apology from the officers... and the dept should suck it up, yeah, it was dumb to take the pics and have them leak to the press... but "renegade" and the officers should've conducted themselves with "dignity and professionalism"... what about the drunk ass city attorney who was obviously not conducting himself with either...

didn't he take an oath too?