ISP Investigating Pierceton Employees After Accident
Posted
Amanda Bridgman-
PIERCETON – Indiana State Police are investigating Pierceton town employees after a water department worker was involved in a collision with a bicyclist.
According to a crash report, at 2:45 p.m. March 29 at the intersection of Pine and Second streets in Pierceton, Noah D. Shepherd, 34, of South CR 400E, Pierceton, was driving a white 2013 Ford F350 pickup registered to the town of Pierceton.
Shepherd is an employee for the water department, who took on that role for the town in 2017 and is paid $36,808 a year, according to public information.
An 18-year-old Columbia City man, Joshua R. Parker, was riding a bicycle and told police he was traveling north on Second Street and ran the stop sign.
Parker crashed into the side of the town’s truck, knocking him off of the bicycle and onto the ground.
According to the crash report, the cyclist was examined at the scene by medics and refused further medical attention.
According to the crash report written by Pierceton Town Marshal Tim Sammons, after the crash, Shepherd’s supervisor, Casey Boggs, arrived at the scene and determined it was policy of the town to have Shepherd submit to a drug screen since he was working and driving a company vehicle.
Later that day, according to the report, Shepherd showed up at Pierceton Police Department and spoke with PPD officer Ryan Piper and said he was concerned about his drug test results testing positive for THC because he was “in Tennessee over the weekend and was around ‘people smoking pot.’”
Sammons reported that he spoke with Pierceton Clerk-Treasurer Myra Mast following Shepherd’s conversation with Piper, and she, too, allegedly said Shepherd had told her the same concerns about the results of the test.
Sammons said if the results came back positive, he would refer the case to ISP, which he said he would do if it was one of his own officers. Sammons then referred all questions to state police.
ISP Public Information Officer Sgt. Ted Bohner told the Times-Union Tuesday there is an active investigation involving Pierceton town employees.
Bohner further said he cannot comment further on active investigations, but once the investigation is complete, ISP will turn it over to the Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney’s office to see if it warrants criminal charges.
Town Council President Tom Barker referred all questions from the Times-Union to the town’s attorney, Tammy Keirn.
Keirn said anything specific to Shepherd “as to him or discipline or lack of discipline would be confidential.”
She further provided the Times-Union with the town’s drug policy, which states: “The Town Council has passed Resolution No. 12-6-92 establishing a drug free workplace standard. ... Employees will not be permitted to work under the influence of alcohol or with prohibited drugs in their systems, thereby affecting job performance. This policy prohibits the illegal use, sale, transfer, distribution, possession of manufacture of narcotics, drugs or other controlled substances while on the job or on town premises, including vehicles used for town business.”
It further states that the town’s disciplinary action will be after consideration of each incident and “including, but not limited to, any adverse effect the employee’s actions may have on its customers, other employees, the public or the town’s reputation and image.”
Such personnel matters are typically discussed during executive sessions of the town board. The last notice of executive session issued for publication requirements under the law said the council would have an executive session at 4 p.m. April 28 to discuss a real property transaction. Executive sessions cannot be attended by the public or the media, but an agenda outlining the topics of discussion are required.
Boggs did not return a call seeking comment for this story, and when reached by telephone, Shepherd said, “No comment.”
