By Liz Nichols - bio | email
FORT BRANCH, IN (WFIE) - New information is being released about a Fort Branch, Indiana reserve police officer who was fired Thursday morning. Authorities say they were approached by witnesses who claim Officer Steven (Steve) Parker played interrogation tapes of an open child molestation case at a party.
The Gibson County Sheriff's Office investigated the claims at the request of Ft. Branch Police Chief Rick Sides. Thursday morning, Chief Sides fired Parker. Parker also works part-time as a reserve officer in Haubstadt. Haubstadt police chief Micah Rulli says Parker has been placed on administrative leave for the time being.
The Gibson County Prosecutor tells 14 News, although the actions were inappropriate, no laws were violated.
"I understand that the local police departments have taken that issue up and have dealt with that in a way they feel is appropriate but as for a crime, I really don't see a role in the prosecutor's office," says Prosecutor Robert Krieg.
Krieg says the defendant in those tapes had already been arrested before the tapes were played. He says the fact that unauthorized people heard them, will not hinder the investigation or prosecution.
"My understanding is, that the portion of the tape that was shown to people that really aren't authorized to see it, was the arrest and the reading of the rights," says Krieg.
The prosecutor says he could change his mind, if new evidence comes forward. For now, it's a "civil matter, if anything," he says.
The family of the defendant, who's believed to be on the tapes, contact us Friday. They would not go on camera but did say they were very upset when they found out about the incident. They are currently looking into pursuing legal action.
Krieg says the situation is still very upsetting for the community.
"Anytime that someone does something that makes law enforcement, the prosecutor's office, whoever, look unprofessional or call our credibility into question, then that's a real concern because that's all we have sometimes is our credibility," he says.
