ELKHART -- Two Elkhart Police officers faced a panel Tuesday and the future of their jobs was on the line. One officer was found guilty of forgery charges and the other faced charges of having sex while on-duty.
A court convicted 19-year Elkhart police veteran Rich Urban last month of forging a check belonging to his former wife. The felony conviction meant the chief could ask for his termination, because the department requires city employees found guilty of felonies be terminated.
By a vote of 5-1, the board upheld the chief's recommendation for his termination.
The second case involves Officer Bill Lee, a five-year veteran of the department who received the medal of valor. A woman currently incarcerated at the Elkhart County jail claims Officer Lee had sex with her while on-duty in uniform on May 8 of last year at her home. She said he claimed he had a warrant for her and used it as way to force her to have sex.
The police chief says it unfortunate his department has to lose two officers this way, but there was a breach of discipline and officer malfeasance that had to be addressed.
The hearing for Corporal Lee will continue on Thursday.
Both of the officers are asking for a disability pension because they believe they suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. The safety board still has to make a decision about that.
