An Anderson Police Department dispatcher has been placed on administrative leave after racist and other offensive content was found on his MySpace page.
Anderson Police Chief Darron Sparks confirmed that dispatcher Brady Lewis had been placed on paid leave Tuesday, pending the outcome of an internal inquiry. An Indianapolis television station first reported the story early Wednesday morning.
“We will be working with the city attorney to find out what needs to be done,” Sparks said. “There are some freedom of speech issues that we have to handle the right way.”
The Herald Bulletin was seeking an interview with Lewis and made several attempts to reach him.
WRTV (Channel 6) reported that Lewis’ MySpace page featured profane language, racially charged words and other language that might be considered offensive to women. Lewis, also a reserve officer for the Edgewood Police Department, has lost that job, as well.
“I was shocked a little bit. It’s not my kind of humor,” Edgewood Police Chief Martin Stanley told WRTV.
When Stanley confronted Lewis, the dispatcher said the page was meant for friends and that he never intended to share it publicly, at which time Stanley asked him to turn in his badge. Among the content found on the page is a Care Bears-style character wearing a swastika.
In addition to his dispatch and reserve-officer duties, Lewis is part-owner of Sundaze Tanning in Edgewood and a business called Spanish 4 Emergencies out of his Anderson home. On a Web site related to the business, Lewis identifies himself as a reserve officer and police dispatcher in Anderson, Ind.
“I decided I needed to learn some emergency Spanish for my own safety, as well as the safety of the subjects with whom I was coming into contact,” Lewis wrote.
APD detective and public information officer Joel Sandefur said Lewis has been with the department for four years.
“As far as I know, there has not been any disciplinary issues,” Sandefur said. “He has functioned very well in his job.”
Local News
8:26 p.m. UPDATE: APD dispatcher on leave over MySpace page
- Local News
-
-
Snow causes few incidents
With temperatures expecting to reach the mid-30s this afternoon, the nearly inch and a half of snow the Anderson area received should soon be gone.
-
Anderson hires consultant to assess software
The city has hired a consultant to help the controller’s office assess financial software that Anderson has used for many years, but typically has not been effective.
-
South Madison board interviews 4 finalists
The search went from 12 to four, and on Thursday, only one will remain to fill the vacancy of the South Madison Community School Corp. board.
-
Proposed bill would streamline college credit transfer process
Indiana college students worried about whether their credit hours will transfer to another university may get some relief if a proposed higher-education bill passes.
-
Shift to online learning raises questions about costs to schools
Legislation that would require high school students in Indiana to take at least one online course is meeting resistance from some school administrators who say they can’t afford any more mandates from the state.
-
First Merchants says Shelbyville acquisition will aid bottom line
First Merchants Bank believes its weekend acquisition of a failing Shelbyville bank will immediately add to the financial institution’s bottom line.
-
Speedway will acquire 88 GasAmerica stores
Nine area GasAmerica stores will be sold to Speedway LLC of Enon, Ohio, as part of a larger acquisition of Gas America Services Inc., company officials said Monday.
-
Former inmate sentenced to 18 years for role in prison riot
Joseph Martin was sentenced to 18 years at the Department of Correction for stabbing another inmate during a riot at a Pendleton prison.
-
Local Briefs: Feb. 15
A compilation of news briefs as published in the Wednesday edition of The Herald Bulletin.
-
Executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank will retire
Lois Rockhill will soon retire as executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana, but she’s not the only one full of memories of her 23 years there. Many other people have their own.
- More Local News Headlines
-
