Merit board to decide on fate of Carmel Police officer - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Sandra Chapman/13 Investigates

Hamilton County - A Carmel Police Officer fighting for his job will learn if he gets fired on Friday. Part of the Merit Board's decision will be based on police video confiscated from his squad car.

That same officer is speaking out for the first time.

13 Investigates sat down with Patrolman Greg Park, who says it was racial profiling and not his performance that could cost him his job.

Once a crime-fighter at IMPD, Officer Greg Park received nearly a dozen commendations. But his aggressive style also got him into trouble: Two written reprimands for insubordination, and two suspensions for take-downs that got too physical.

Park was disciplined, but his job was not threatened. That didn't happen until he became an officer at Carmel PD.

In November, Park says he complained to his bosses about racial profiling of Hispanics and African Americans.

"I brought up a concern that I had of possible racial profiling on the street," Park said sitting alongside his attorney.

"Did that seem troubling to them?" 13 Investigates asked.

Park: "Yes, it seemed troubling."

The City of Carmel was hit with a federal racial profiling lawsuit in 1997 after State Trooper David Smith was pulled over without cause. Smith was in an unmarked police car, but in full uniform. Carmel settled the case out of court, but came under the review of the US Justice Department. Carmel agreed to install in dash cameras and enact new training.

"We really look forward, and want to make certain that there's no wrongdoing in the future," said Mayor Jim Brainard back in 1998 after signing the settlement.

Officer Park says two weeks after Carmel Police supervisors reportedly agreed to look into concerns of profiling, he was put on notice: The chief wanted him fired. That was the first time Park says he learned three women had lodged complaints against him months earlier.

He's accused of violating rules, lying, and conduct unbecoming based in part on allegations of "lingering" over traffic stops involving women. The department collected dozens of traffic stop videos from Officer Park's in-dash camera, and plan to use them against him.

"Were you stalking women?" 13 Investigates asked.

"Absolutely not. No!" responded Park, calling the allegations false.

Park sat down with 13 Investigates to tell his side of the story, starting with a Carmel woman who complained that his handshake made her "uncomfortable."

"It was a normal handshake," insisted Park.

The August 20th incident began when Park stopped a teenage girl speeding to a school event. Park allowed the teen to leave, but drove her warning ticket to her house, and spoke with her mother about the traffic stop, and tennis.

The woman later complained of a lingering handshake and said Officer Park had possibly seen her and her daughter playing tennis in sports bras.

"I told the mother that I had noticed people playing tennis before, and she said, 'yeah, we like to play tennis.' She put out her hand to shake mine, I shook her hand and she said thank you, and that was it. I left," the three-year Carmel veteran explained.

In 2008, Park was investigated by Carmel PD, after a female motorist said he made her feel uncomfortable. He stopped her near her home. She didn't have a license. So he followed her inside, carrying her groceries. He violated police protocol and was counseled about turning off his recording devices during stops.

13 Investigates asked Park where the allegations of "lingering behavior" with women were coming from?

"Well, I wish I knew," he said.

"This seems to be someone's knee jerk reaction to Officer Park making a complaint to his supervisor about racial profiling," added his attorney, former Indianapolis Public Safety Director, Robert Turner.

Park's attorney says Carmel violated the Officer Bill of Rights by failing to provide written complaints and not issuing timely discipline, not even one suspension before trying to terminate Officer Park.

"Basically they're saying you're not a good officer, that they don't want you to work at Carmel P.D. Any longer," 13 Investigates' Sandra Chapman asked Officer Park.

"Well I know I'm a good officer. I was really surprised that there was any kind of complaint made at all," he said.

Carmel Police Chief, Tim Green said he could not speak about the case until the hearings are over.

Last week, the Merit Board heard accusations of alleged insubordination. Park is also accused of revealing details of a police pharmacy investigation to a pharmacy employee, claims he adamantly denies.

The Merit Board Hearing resumes Friday morning.