Sept. 19--SOUTH BEND -- A South Bend patrolman is facing a possible suspension for reportedly releasing to the media an internal police report that related to a contentious phone conversation he had with St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit Commander Tim Corbett.
South Bend Interim Police Chief Chuck Hurley recommended Wednesday that officer Jack Stilp be suspended 10 days for releasing the report, which was filed by Stilp after he believed Corbett made threatening comments to him over the phone in May.
The conversation was reportedly about the federal investigation into the recording of phone calls at the South Bend Police Department that led to the demotion of former chief Darryl Boykins and sparked much debate and potential lawsuits.
Corbett is allegedly on the tapes. Former SBPD communications director Karen DePaepe has said the recordings captured high-ranking officers making racist comments.
Stilp will be given the opportunity to defend himself to the South Bend Board of Public Safety. If he declines, the board will move to approve Hurley's recommendation.
Corbett was suspended last month after a board determined he violated county policy during the phone conversation.
Although the Board of the County Metro Homicide Unit ruled that Corbett's conversation with Stilp did not rise to the level of a threat, Prosecutor Michael Dvorak handed down a five-day, unpaid suspension for the violation.
In an internal report filed by Stilp, he claimed Corbett, after some small talk, said: "Well, all you day shift (expletive) better quit running your sucks, trust me, there's some (expletive) coming down shortly."
Corbett, in response to a question from Stilp, allegedly replied: "What does that mean? I'm just telling you that I'm the wrong guy to be (expletive) with."
Hurley said he hopes Stilp has learned his lesson.
"It's serious enough to warrant 10 days in my opinion,' Hurley said. "He admitted to doing it, and hopefully he's remorseful.
"There's personal information, and we're not supposed to give it to the media and make it public. There might be other peoples' names in the report that don't want it released."
The Board of Public Safety also on Wednesday approved a change to the department's duty manual related to the recording of phone lines.
The change allows for only the 911 communication, front desk and internal affairs phone lines to be recorded. Previously, the main detective bureau number and the detective bureau chief's line were recorded. Recently, though, a captain's line was being recorded instead of the detective bureau chief's.
The board also set an Oct. 25 hearing for Patrolman Chris Bortone, who is facing a possible termination on charges of being untruthful in regard to a larceny case he responded to in March at the Meijer on Portage Avenue.
Bortone, the 2007 Officer of the Year, has been suspended on two other occasions since February 2011.
Staff writer Tom Moor:
[email protected] 574-235-6234
Copyright 2012 - South Bend Tribune, Ind.
