Board upholds Indiana officer’s 5-day suspension

PERU, Ind. (AP) – A north-central Indiana city has upheld its police chief’s disciplinary action against an officer who was suspended for five days without pay.

The Kokomo Tribune reports the Peru Board of Works on Thursday upheld Chief Ray Raney’s discipline of Officer Sam Finnegan.

Raney cited Finnegan in December for falsifying a report, disobeying a direct order and for conduct unbecoming of a police officer. Finnegan had asked the board to overturn the chief’s decision. He called his punishment “too severe” in a letter to the panel.

But Peru Mayor Jim Walker and board member Steve Gough voted Thursday to uphold Raney’s disciplinary action. Board member Bill Berkshire abstained from the vote due to his position as the city’s attorney.

Gough says he believes Finnegan’s discipline was warranted.