Indiana child welfare head's ethics questioned - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Update: Judge Payne resigned from his position Monday. See the story here.

A published report says the director of the Indiana Department of Child Services likely violated his agency's code of conduct with his involvement in a child neglect case involving his own grandchildren.

The Indianapolis Star on Sunday reported Director James Payne waged a behind-the-scenes fight to discredit and derail his agency's recommendations in the case. It says the agency's code of conduct forbids agency staff from personal and private interests such as a case involving relatives.

Payne in an email to the Star stressed that his only role in the case was "as a grandparent, father and husband," and not in a professional capacity.

According to the report, the Department put his own grandchildren in Payne's custody while his son and daughter-in-law went through a bitter divorce and custody fight.

But Payne stayed on as Director, and now is under fire for not stepping down.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Gregg says Gov. Mitch Daniels should request Payne's resignation. A spokeswoman for Daniels has no immediate comment on Gregg's request.
  
Just last month, Gregg said if elected Governor he would evaluate the state's child welfare system.
     
Republican candidate for Governor Mike Pence deferred any comment to Governor Daniels.
    
A statement from Daniels office, as reported in the Star this morning, said Daniels would not engage in a "partisan debate."
    
This is a "Code of Conduct" for the Department of Child Services, written by Director Payne which references both "conflict of interest" and 'personal relationships" - and in both cases calls for at least a discussion with a supervisor.

Information from: The Indianapolis Star

The Associated Press contributed to this report