12312015 - News Article - Brothers sworn in as mayor, City Council member in Lake Station

Brothers sworn in as mayor, City Council member in Lake Station
Post-Tribune
December 31, 2015
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-anderson-lake-station-st-0101-20151231-story.html

More than 100 people packed Lake Station City Hall to see a new city administration take the oath of office Wednesday night.

Flanked by family members, new Mayor Christopher Anderson was sworn-in just minutes after his younger brother, Neil Anderson, took the oath of office to serve as one of the city's two at-large council members.

Also sworn-in Wednesday were Carlos Luna, D-1st; Fred Williams, D-3rd; Rick Long, D-5th; Clerk-Treasurer Joseph Castellanos and city court Judge Josh Matejczyk, also Democrats. Longtime Hobart city court Judge William Longer administered the oath. Long was the lone incumbent seeking re-election in the city to retain his seat.

The city's three other council members, Esther Rocha-Baldazo, D-at large; Jennifer Miller, I-2nd, and Erika Castillo, D-4th were sworn-in earlier this month at the Lake County Government Center in Crown Point.

"We have our work cut out for us," Christopher Anderson told the crowd.

The new mayor takes the city's helm in the wake of the conviction of former Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist. Soderquist and his wife, Deborah, were convicted in September of using money from his election fund and the city's food pantry to pay for dozens of gambling trips. They have filed a motion for a new trial.

Anderson credited interim Mayor Dewey Lemley, who has served since Soderquist's conviction, with spending the past couple months laying the groundwork to get the city back on track. Lemley was the city's mayor from 1992 to 1996,

"It's time to get to work," Anderson said.

He vowed the first changes in the cash-strapped city government would be quick and inexpensive. Anderson said the city will join the Shared Ethics Advisory Committee and work to improve the transparency of city operations.

"I have a lot of mixed emotions: excitement, a little nervousness about what I might find when I walk into the office," Anderson said after the ceremony.

Resident Dimitri Tsahas was among those in the gallery. He has been a longtime friend of the Anderson family and came out to support the new officials.

"There is a whole lot of work to do. I don't expect too much right away," Tsahas said.

Another resident, who declined to be identified, said she came out because she wanted to see the ceremony. She is looking forward to a having a new administration.

"I hope they straighten the city out, get us out of debt and get us on the right track," she said.

Anderson has spent the past few months in close contact with Lemley, and the past couple weeks working with him to ease the transition. Anderson said he does not necessarily expect any new surprises about the city's finances when he starts the job Monday, but "you never know."

A $500,000 unpaid paving bill, which Anderson said nobody was aware of, was among the problems discovered by Lemley.

"It was somewhat of a big surprise," Anderson said.

His work will begin with getting an understanding of where the city stands financially. Much work must be done, but it will cost money, so that means it may take time, he said. Anderson said residents have so far been understanding and know time is needed to get the city turned around.

"They are well aware of what happened here," he said.

Attracting new business and increasing the property tax base will be crucial to changing the financial situation, he said.

Anderson said he was glad to see his younger brother win a seat on the council and is looking forward to working with him and the rest of the panel. He said council members must speak their mind and ask questions, and not just vote for every measure that comes before them. He expects his brother to speak his mind and said he may do so "more so than anybody else" because of their relationship.

He knows that may not always go smoothly.

"We are going to disagree," Anderson said. "I welcome the council's opinions."

12242015 - News Article - Soderquist's stepdaughter asks to travel before trial

Soderquist's stepdaughter asks to travel before trial
Post-Tribune (IN)
December 24, 2015
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.proxy.portagelibrary.info/resources/doc/nb/news/159EE89BA8B81A50?p=AWNB
Former Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist's stepdaughter is asking permission to travel to Florida for surgery a little more than a month before their criminal trial.

Thomas Vanes, Miranda Brakley's attorney, says in the request that she does not expect the surgery to interfere with the trial's start date of Feb. 1 and that federal attorneys do not oppose it.

The trial originally was delayed from a start date in November, and the motion notes that a surgery Brakley had Nov. 11 was part of the reason for the delay.

The motion adds that during the first surgery, doctors discovered Brakley would need a second surgery, which will take place in Florida and is set for this week. She is expected to need to stay in the hospital for less than a week.

Brakley is accused of stealing money from the city of Lake Station when she worked there as a court clerk and then lying on her bankruptcy records by not declaring that income.

Soderquist and his wife, Deborah Soderquist, are accused of acting as accessories after the fact and money structuring, which involves trying to avoid legal notices by banks of any financial activity of more than $10,000 by breaking activity into multiple, smaller amounts.

All three have pleaded not guilty. The Soderquists were convicted in a separate case in September of using money from his election fund and the city's food pantry to pay for dozens of gambling trips. They have filed a motion for a new trial in that case.

12222015 - News Article - Former LaPorte County auditor to be sentenced for embezzlement

Former LaPorte County auditor to be sentenced for embezzlement
WNDU News
Posted: Tue 6:47 PM, Dec 22, 2015
Updated: Tue 7:02 PM, Dec 22, 2015
http://www.wndu.com/home/headlines/Former-LaPorte-County-auditor-to-be-sentenced-for-embezzlement-363231431.html

LaPorte County, Ind. -- Federal attorneys say a former LaPorte County auditor will wait another few weeks for her final sentencing.

In Tuesday, Mary Ray, 67, appeared in federal court after prosecutors say she stole more than $150,000 in government funds and defrauded her father-in-law of at least $400,000.

Back in September, a jury convicted Ray on charges including theft of government monies, lying on tax returns, and wire fraud.

This all happened between September 2011 and December 2012 while she served as the county's chief deputy auditor. According to prosecutors, Ray used the funds to gamble at casinos.

Among the objections raised at the Tuesday hearing were the prosecution's characterization of Ray's father-in-law as a "vulnerable victim." According to the government, Norman Ray relocated to LaPorte in April 2013, after recently losing his wife. Ray, now 86, is a disabled war veteran. On direct examination, an FBI agent said the elder Ray could not remember at which banks he held bank accounts. Mary Ray's attorney countered, saying Norman could give directions to where he banked.

The bifurcated hearing will reconvene sometime in January, said U.S. Assistant Attorney Donald Schmid. Mary Ray could face up to ten years in prison, plus an additional two years of supervised release.

12152015 - News Article - Land preparation to begin for new animal shelter

Land preparation to begin for new animal shelter

Post-Tribune

December 15, 2015 - 3:33PM

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-porter-animal-shelter-st-1216-20151215-story.html#nt=related-content

Construction on a new county animal shelter could begin in the spring, and the Board of Commissioners have asked the county's highway department to tear down the old house on the property.

"Let's tear down the buildings and get started," Commissioners President John Evans, R-North, said Tuesday of the county-owned land, on Indiana 49 between the Porter County Sheriff's Department and the Expo Center.

Commissioner Jeff Good, R-Center, said soil borings would be needed at the site in the coming weeks, which will require the house and a few outbuildings to be torn down, though some buildings may remain for construction equipment storage.

The work will include salvaging an air conditioning unit and other equipment from the old house.

Good is heading up a technical review committee for the new building, and said the committee is ready to start the request for qualifications process. The committee will review the firms interested in the design/build process for the shelter and rate them, getting the list down to three potential bidders.

That list will be ready early next year.

"It is moving forward. We are following state guidelines," Good said, adding this is the first time the county is using the design/build process, which will be useful for future projects.

Commissioner Laura Blaney, D-South, suggested putting up a sign announcing the spot as the new site for the shelter.

The current shelter, at 2056 Heavilin Road, is a facility that county officials have long said was too old and too small to handle the volume of animals that pass through it.

Previous discussion about where to put a new shelter have included on county-owned property at U.S. 130 and Ind. 149, and at Sunset Hill Farm County Park, among other locations.

In other business, commissioners renewed a contract with Porter Health Care System for another year for its Care Express urgent care clinics, located in Chesterton, Portage and Valparaiso.

This will be the third year for the contract, which is unchanged from past years, said Porter's chief executive officer, Steve Lunn. Under the contract, the county pays $125 when employees or those covered on their insurance use one of the clinics and employees have a $10 co-pay.

The clinics saw 656 people in 2014 and expect to see 667 people this year under the contract, Lunn said.

Before the county signed the contract with Porter, it had a contract with Healthy Access for a flat rate of $18,000 per month, regardless of how many employees used it, said Mike Anton, the county's servicing agent for its health insurance.

Under the old plan, 20 to 30 employees were using Healthy Access clinics each month; that's now 50 to 55 people with Care Express, Anton said.

Additionally, commissioners announced they hired Matthew Stechly of Valparaiso as the county's new facilities director after conducting four interviews earlier Tuesday. Stechly, who has a background in facilities management, starts Jan. 4 at an annual salary of $57,000.

12102015 - News Article - Judge OKs delay for Soderquist sentencing

Judge OKs delay for Soderquist sentencing
Post-Tribune (IN)
December 10, 2015
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.proxy.portagelibrary.info/resources/doc/nb/news/159A4CC348782AC8?p=AWNB
A federal judge has agreed to delay former Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist's sentencing, which was set for next week.

Soderquist and his wife, Deborah Soderquist, were convicted in September of using his campaign money and money from the city's food pantry to pay for dozens of gambling trips. However, the Soderquists filed a motion soon after their conviction for a new trial, arguing that U.S. District Judge Rudy Lozano fell asleep several times during their trial.

Lozano has not yet ruled on that motion, which is part of the reason why the Soderquists asked to delay their sentencing. Their attorney, Scott King, also said in the motion that health issues with Deborah Soderquist have delayed their preparation for sentencing.

King asked for another 45 days, although Lozano has not yet set a new date for sentencing.

12092015 - News Article - Soderquist sentencing delayed

Soderquist sentencing delayed

NWI Times

December 09, 2015 - 2:45PM

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/soderquist-sentencing-delayed/article_6bd45794-ec6a-5ba0-b8f7-25997811cdc3.html

HAMMOND — Former Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist and his wife, Deborah, were granted a delay in next Tuesday's sentencing for improperly using money from Keith's campaign fund and the city's food pantry account to gamble.

U.S. District Judge Rudy Lozano granted the motion Tuesday and has yet to set a new date.

The delay was sought by defense attorney Scott King, who argued there are decisions still pending in Soderquist's request for a new judge and new trial.

The couple, who was convicted Sept. 11, is arguing that Lozano fell asleep at least two times during their trial.

Federal prosecutors have said they reviewed courtroom security video and found no reason the Soderquists should be granted a new trial.

King said his ability to meet with the defendants to review draft versions of the pre-sentence reports has been compromised by Deborah Soderquist's health and King's schedule.

King said the prosecutor in the case does not object to the continuance. A delay of 45 days was requested.

12052015 - News Article - Portage chief: Too many unanswered questions on body cameras

Portage chief: Too many unanswered questions on body cameras
December 05, 2015 - 4:30 pm
Joyce Russell
NWI Times
nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/portage-chief-too-many-unanswered-questions-on-body-cameras/article_536eb79a-9708-5ecd-a71f-58f65a2aa7be.html

PORTAGE | Portage Police Chief Troy Williams said this week he hasn't ruled out the use of body cameras for his department in the future.

But, he said, there are too many unanswered questions at present for the city to jump on the latest trend in law enforcement.

"It's not something you can rush into," said Williams, adding the issues run from privacy concerns to funding to equipment reliability.

The discussion of whether Portage should invest in body cameras for police officers arose at this week's City Council meeting. Councilman Matt Scheuer introduced an ordinance that would required the city to find funding and initiate a program by 2019.

Scheuer said he introduced the ordinance upon the request of constituents. He said he believed the use of body cameras could improve the relationship between police and the community, reduce frivolous lawsuits and and protect both officers and those with whom they interact.

Both Williams and the Fraternal Order of Police objected to the ordinance, which ultimately failed.

Williams and the FOP, in its letter, said they weren't objecting to the possible use of cameras, but to the process and not being included in the discussion.

"There is a distinct process to this thing. We need to have the conversation and, in the end, we may see it is something we want to do, we may not," Williams said.

Williams said he has been researching body cameras and the issues involved with using them on a police department.

One, he said, is privacy, an issue that is currently being studied by a state legislative committee.

"When do we turn them on and when do we turn them off? Are they on an entire shift? What if we respond to a call involving a medical issue? What about HIPAA (medical privacy) laws? What if a call involves a juvenile?" Williams said about what he feels are unanswered questions about the use of body cameras.

The bipartisan state legislative committee has been taking testimony on several of the issues, according to recent news reports. The goal is to introduce legislation covering several of the issues in January when the state Legislature convenes for its next session.

Williams said there is also the cost factor and, with limited funding, prioritizing what the department needs. There is also the issue of looking at potential federal grants to fund body cameras.

"In 2018, we need to narrow band (communication radios) again. Right now we can't talk to Lake County. That is something that needs to be addressed," said Williams, adding he believes it is more of a priority.

Hammond is the only city in the region that has initiated the use of body cameras for its officers. The cost there was about $158,000 for equipment, licensing and video storage.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department spent months testing and assessing equipment during a pilot program this summer, but said they couldn't afford to outfit their department with the devices at an estimated cost of $2 million, according to an article in Police magazine.

Williams said there is also the issue of equipment reliability, pointing to dash cameras the department has used. He said they've used several brands, each time getting promises of reliability, but falling short of expectations.

He also disputes the claim that his department needs cameras at this point, saying in most recent lawsuits filed against the department, cameras wouldn't have made a difference.

"If someone is aware there is a camera, will it lessen their behavior? Maybe. Most complaints we get are that an officer has been rude," said Williams, adding in those situations the cameras could benefit the officer.

"We really have to weigh the pros and the cons and the expense," he said.

12052015 - News Article - Fiance, brother remember spirit of homicide victim - Tiara Thomas described as caring, loving person

Also See:

11182015 - Tiara Thomas OIDV Murder, Portage Indiana - Gary/Hammond Indiana Police Officer Kevin Campbell Charged With Murder

01092018 - Tiara Thomas Murder - Trial Of Former Gary/Hammond Police Officer Kevin Campbell - CONVICTED

Fiance, brother remember spirit of homicide victim 
Tiara Thomas described as caring, loving person
Post-Tribune (IN)
December 5, 2015
www.newsbank.com
Tiara Thomas wanted nothing more than to help and love others, her fiance and brother said Friday.

No matter the circumstances or situation, her giving nature meant she put others first, they said.

"Tiara lived to please others, to help anybody who was in need," recalled her fiance, Marqtell Robinson. "There wasn't anything she had she wasn't willing to give to others, whether it was love or money. There wasn't anything she wouldn't give, even if she didn't have it."

Robinson and Michael Thomas, Tiara Thomas' brother, recalled her generous spirit and her devotion to her children.

On Thursday, Kevin Campbell, 31, her ex-boyfriend and father of her three children, was arrested and charged with murder in her deathTiara Thomas, 30,was shot to death in the early-morning hours of Nov. 18 in the Portage apartment she shared with Robinson, authorities said.

Michael Thomas said his sister and Campbell, of the 6100 block of Wisconsin Street in Hobart, were high school sweethearts and their families have been intertwined for 15 years. The two never married.

"The hurt for us is so much bigger than this isolated incident, and we still have a really good relationship with several of his family," Michael Thomas said.

Robinson, 20, said he and Tiara Thomas had been together about a year. They met while working for the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, where they were both associates reviewing service applications.

They became engaged March 24 and planned a wedding for June 26, Robinson said.

Thomas' children, ages 11, 8 and 5, were her world, Robinson said, and she often volunteered at their schools in Portage, chaperoning field trips and taking any other duties that were asked of her.

"She was the best mom I've ever seen. It goes back to the loving and generous person she was," he said. "Her kids came first, no matter what."

Michael Thomas, who now lives in Athens, Ga., said he and his sister were born and raised in Gary, and she was a cheerleader at Wirt High School.

"I didn't really notice it growing up, but people would refer to her as my shadow," said Michael Thomas, who is two years older than his sister.

They held their own story hour, taking turns as they read books together, and Thomas always tagged along to his Little League practices with their cousins.

"She'd be the only girl out there trying to catch fly balls and hit with everyone else," he said, adding she didn't like it when people criticized his athletic ability. "She thought I was the greatest baseball player, even though I wasn't."

In addition to planning a June wedding with Robinson, Tiara Thomas was working on an accounting degree, which she would have completed in May, Robinson said.

She hoped to some day use that business background to open and run a day care because she loved children.

"Tiara was at a point in her life where she was finding her own way," Michael Thomas said. "She had really gotten to a point where she was finding her lane and moving forward."

Thomas touched many lives, her brother said, many more than he ever knew because she wasn't the kind of person who wanted to be recognized for it, a testimony to her values. On Nov. 28, mourners filled all 300 pews at Beyond Four Walls Christian Center in Gary for her funeral service.

"I like to characterize Tiara as someone to persevere through difficult times and help people get to where they were going, so she helped a lot of people out," her brother said. "Tiara's gift, I believe, was she was a connector. She connected with people. Even if people weren't talking, they were talking to her."

Michael Thomas said the family has established a GoFundMe page to raise money for her children.

Tiara Thomas was always about building and uplifting others, her brother said.

"We don't want to dwell on the tragedy of the situation, but we do want to dwell on the legacy of Tiara, and that is loving others even when it's inconvenient," he said.

The loss of Tiara Thomas is everyone's loss, her brother said, for the lives she could have touched for years to come.

"I don't want to see my sister as being a victim but as being victorious. We know we're not alone and other families are suffering with us," he said. "It's a very tragic thing, but if we can turn it around, that will be an amazing legacy to have been left by my sister."

12052015 - News Article - No bond for former cop accused in Portage killing

Also See:

11182015 - Tiara Thomas OIDV Murder, Portage Indiana - Gary/Hammond Indiana Police Officer Kevin Campbell Charged With Murder

01092018 - Tiara Thomas Murder - Trial Of Former Gary/Hammond Police Officer Kevin Campbell - CONVICTED

No bond for former cop accused in Portage killing

Post-Tribune (IN) 

December 5, 2015

www.newsbank.com

Porter Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford entered a preliminary plea of not guilty on a felony murder charge Friday for a former Hammond and Gary police officer accused of killing the mother of three of his children.

Kevin Campbell, 31, of the 6100 block of Wisconsin Street in Hobart, is charged in the Nov. 18 shooting death of his former girlfriend, Tiara Thomas, 30.

She was shot to death in the Portage apartment she shared with her fiance, Marqtell Robinson.

Campbell is being held without bond.

Merrillville attorney Roy Dominguez, the former Lake County sheriff, is representing Campbell. His wife, Alicia Campbell, and his father, Kent Campbell, attended the brief hearing. They declined to comment afterward.

Porter County Prosecutor Brian Gensel is handling the case for the state.

Campbell, wearing an orange jumpsuit and with his hands in handcuffs in front of him, appeared via video in a room at the Porter County Jail with seven other inmates.

Campbell repeatedly answered, "Yes, your honor," as Bradford asked him if he understood the allegations against him and the penalties he would face if found guilty. Campbell faces 45 to 65 years in prison if convicted.

Bradford also issued a no-contact order between Campbell and his children, ages 11, 8 and 5.

No trial date was set during the hearing, but a status hearing was scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 8 and a pretrial conference for 9 a.m. March 7.

Campbell was taken into custody shortly before 6 a.m. Thursday. He was arrested outside his home in Hobart as he left to take his wife to work.

Police have said Campbell might have had a financial motive for his alleged crime.

According to charging documents, Campbell's vehicle had been repossessed, and he and Thomas argued about his payment of $1,495 a month in child support and how the money was spent. He had a bank account balance of $7.58 at the time of Thomas' death, and police found numerous voice mails from creditors on his cellphone, court documents said.

Thomas was discovered with several gunshot wounds around 7:30 a.m. Nov. 18 when Robinson found her after he returned from work to their apartment in the 5900 block of Old Porter Road in the Park Place apartment complex.

She died a short time later at Methodist Hospital Northlake Campus in Gary. She suffered gunshot wounds to the chest, head and both wrists.

Campbell was terminated from the Hammond department Nov. 23.

He previously worked as an officer with the Gary Police Department for four years, where he was a member of the department's Region STOP Team.

12042015 - News Article - Tiara Thomas' fiance, brother remember her spirit

Also See:

11182015 - Tiara Thomas OIDV Murder, Portage Indiana - Gary/Hammond Indiana Police Officer Kevin Campbell Charged With Murder

01092018 - Tiara Thomas Murder - Trial Of Former Gary/Hammond Police Officer Kevin Campbell - CONVICTED

Tiara Thomas' fiance, brother remember her spirit

Post-Tribune

December 04, 2015 - 6:33PM

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-tiara-thomas-fiance-reaction-st-1205-20151204-story.html

Tiara Thomas wanted nothing more than to help and love others, her fiance and brother said Friday.

No matter the circumstances or situation, her giving nature meant she put others first, they said.

"Tiara lived to please others, to help anybody who was in need," recalled her fiance, Marqtell Robinson. "There wasn't anything she had she wasn't willing to give to others, whether it was love or money. There wasn't anything she wouldn't give, even if she didn't have it."

Robinson and Michael Thomas, Tiara Thomas' brother, recalled her generous spirit and her devotion to her children.

On Thursday, Kevin Campbell, 31, her ex-boyfriend and father of her three children, was arrested and charged with murder in her deathTiara Thomas, 30,was shot to death in the early-morning hours of Nov. 18 in the Portage apartment she shared with Robinson, authorities said.

Michael Thomas said his sister and Campbell, of the 6100 block of Wisconsin Street in Hobart, were high school sweethearts and their families have been intertwined for 15 years. The two never married.

"The hurt for us is so much bigger than this isolated incident, and we still have a really good relationship with several of his family," Michael Thomas said.

Robinson, 20, said he and Tiara Thomas had been together about a year. They met while working for the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, where they were both associates reviewing service applications.

They became engaged March 24 and planned a wedding for June 26, Robinson said.

Thomas' children, ages 11, 8 and 5, were her world, Robinson said, and she often volunteered at their schools in Portage, chaperoning field trips and taking any other duties that were asked of her.

"She was the best mom I've ever seen. It goes back to the loving and generous person she was," he said. "Her kids came first, no matter what."

Michael Thomas, who now lives in Athens, Ga., said he and his sister were born and raised in Gary, and she was a cheerleader at Wirt High School.

"I didn't really notice it growing up, but people would refer to her as my shadow," said Michael Thomas, who is two years older than his sister.

They held their own story hour, taking turns as they read books together, and Thomas always tagged along to his Little League practices with their cousins.

"She'd be the only girl out there trying to catch fly balls and hit with everyone else," he said, adding she didn't like it when people criticized his athletic ability. "She thought I was the greatest baseball player, even though I wasn't."

In addition to planning a June wedding with Robinson, Tiara Thomas was working on an accounting degree, which she would have completed in May, Robinson said.

She was the best mom I've ever seen. It goes back to the loving and generous person she was.

— Marqtell Robinson

She hoped to some day use that business background to open and run a day care because she loved children.

"Tiara was at a point in her life where she was finding her own way," Michael Thomas said. "She had really gotten to a point where she was finding her lane and moving forward."

Thomas touched many lives, her brother said, many more than he ever knew because she wasn't the kind of person who wanted to be recognized for it, a testimony to her values. On Nov. 28, mourners filled all 300 pews at Beyond Four Walls Christian Center in Gary for her funeral service.

"I like to characterize Tiara as someone to persevere through difficult times and help people get to where they were going, so she helped a lot of people out," her brother said. "Tiara's gift, I believe, was she was a connector. She connected with people. Even if people weren't talking, they were talking to her."

Michael Thomas said the family has established a GoFundMe page to raise money for her children.

Tiara Thomas was always about building and uplifting others, her brother said.

"We don't want to dwell on the tragedy of the situation, but we do want to dwell on the legacy of Tiara, and that is loving others even when it's inconvenient," he said.

The loss of Tiara Thomas is everyone's loss, her brother said, for the lives she could have touched for years to come.

"I don't want to see my sister as being a victim but as being victorious. We know we're not alone and other families are suffering with us," he said. "It's a very tragic thing, but if we can turn it around, that will be an amazing legacy to have been left by my sister."

12042015 - News Article - No bond for former cop accused in Portage killing

Also See:

11182015 - Tiara Thomas OIDV Murder, Portage Indiana - Gary/Hammond Indiana Police Officer Kevin Campbell Charged With Murder

01092018 - Tiara Thomas Murder - Trial Of Former Gary/Hammond Police Officer Kevin Campbell - CONVICTED

No bond for former cop accused in Portage killing

Post-Tribune

December 04, 2015 - 4:54PM

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-former-hammond-cop-hearing-st-1205-20151204-story.html

Porter Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford entered a preliminary plea of not guilty on a felony murder charge Friday for a former Hammond and Gary police officer accused of killing the mother of three of his children.

Kevin Campbell, 31, of the 6100 block of Wisconsin Street in Hobart, is charged in the Nov. 18 shooting death of his former girlfriend, Tiara Thomas, 30. She was shot to death in the Portage apartment she shared with her fiance, Marqtell Robinson.

Campbell is being held without bond.

Merrillville attorney Roy Dominguez, the former Lake County sheriff, is representing Campbell. His wife, Alicia Campbell, and his father, Kent Campbell, attended the brief hearing. They declined to comment afterward.

Porter County Prosecutor Brian Gensel is handling the case for the state.

Campbell, wearing an orange jumpsuit and with his hands in handcuffs in front of him, appeared via video in a room at the Porter County Jail with seven other inmates.

Campbell repeatedly answered, "Yes, your honor," as Bradford asked him if he understood the allegations against him and the penalties he would face if found guilty. Campbell faces 45 to 65 years in prison if convicted.

Bradford also issued a no-contact order between Campbell and his children, ages 11, 8 and 5.

No trial date was set during the hearing, but a status hearing was scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 8 and a pretrial conference for 9 a.m. March 7.

Campbell was taken into custody shortly before 6 a.m. Thursday. He was arrested outside his home in Hobart as he left to take his wife to work.

Police have said Campbell might have had a financial motive for his alleged crime.

According to charging documents, Campbell's vehicle had been repossessed, and he and Thomas argued about his payment of $1,495 a month in child support and how the money was spent. He had a bank account balance of $7.58 at the time of Thomas' death, and police found numerous voice mails from creditors on his cellphone, court documents said.

Thomas was discovered with several gunshot wounds around 7:30 a.m. Nov. 18 when Robinson found her after he returned from work to their apartment in the 5900 block of Old Porter Road in the Park Place apartment complex.

She died a short time later at Methodist Hospital Northlake Campus in Gary. She suffered gunshot wounds to the chest, head and both wrists.

Campbell was terminated from the Hammond department Nov. 23.

He previously worked as an officer with the Gary Police Department for four years, where he was a member of the department's Region STOP Team.

12042015 - News Article - Former Hammond cop charged in shooting death of his children's mother

Also See:

11182015 - Tiara Thomas OIDV Murder, Portage Indiana - Gary/Hammond Indiana Police Officer Kevin Campbell Charged With Murder

01092018 - Tiara Thomas Murder - Trial Of Former Gary/Hammond Police Officer Kevin Campbell - CONVICTED

Former Hammond cop charged in shooting death of his children's mother

Post Tribune
December 04, 2015 - 3:36PM

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-charges-in-portage-killing-st-1204-20151203-story.html

Portage Police Chief Troy Williams said there might have been a financial motive for former Hammond and Gary police officer Kevin Campbell to take the life of his ex-girlfriend and the mother of three of his children, Tiara Thomas, last month in a Portage apartment complex.

Campbell, 31, of the 6100 block of Wisconsin Street in Hobart, was charged Wednesday and taken into custody shortly before 6 a.m. Thursday. Police arrested Campbell outside his home as he left to take his wife to work, Williams said at a Thursday press conference at the Portage Police Department.

Williams said Campbell ran from his driveway north to the side of his yard before he gave himself up. The Portage Police SWAT Team assisted with the arrest because though he was recently fired from the Hammond Police Department, he owned multiple firearms and still had soft body armor, Williams said.

Campbell was taken into custody and transported to Porter County Jail without further incident. The case has been assigned to Porter Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford. Because Campbell is charged with murder, it is expected he will be held without bond. His initial hearing is scheduled via videoconference for 3 p.m. Friday.

"Regrettably, Mr. Campbell was a police officer at the time of this crime and thus tarnished the badge. But make no mistake; Mr. Campbell stopped being a police officer the moment he pulled the trigger," Williams said. "In a time around the country when some have distrust for the police, Mr. Campbell did nothing to help that cause. I believe Mr. Campbell's callous and calculating actions go to show the type of person he truly is."

According to charging documents filed Wednesday, Campbell's vehicle had been repossessed and he and Thomas argued about his payment of $1,495 a month in child support and how the money was spent. He had a bank account balance of $7.58 at the time of Thomas' death, and police found numerous voicemails from creditors on his cellphone, the probable cause affidavit said.

"We believe there was some financial motive to this," Williams said. "There seem to be a lot of things that built up for Mr. Campbell. Being a police officer, you would hope he wouldn't take the type of action that he took."

Thomas, 30, was discovered by her fiance on her bedroom floor with several gunshot wounds around 7:30 a.m. Nov. 18 when her fiancé returned from work to their apartment in the 5900 block of Old Porter Road in the Park Place apartment complex.

She died a short time later at Methodist Hospital Northlake Campus in Gary. She suffered gunshot wounds to the chest, head and both wrists.

"As our investigation progressed, Tiara's ex-husband, Kevin A. Campbell, became a person of interest due to several deceptive and misleading statements that we knew to be false," Williams said. Police said those statements had to do with the whereabouts of Campbell's cellphone, which according to charging documents was found with Campbell's father when the two went to the police station for questioning the day of the murder.

"As our case continued and as our evidence mounted, it became clear that Mr. Campbell was the main suspect," Williams said.

Campbell had his children with Thomas, who lived with her, stay at his Hobart residence the night before the murder, the affidavit said.

The court document said he left his residence at 4:37 a.m. Nov. 18, drove to Thomas' apartment, where his cellphone pinged to a nearby cell tower at 5:38 a.m., and returned home at 5:55 a.m. in time to get his children ready to attend school in Portage.

Thomas' fiancé told police it was unusual for Campbell to have the children overnight during the week because he would have to get up early and drive the children back to Portage for school.

The return trip to Portage the day of Thomas' death included a stop at Columbus Park in Lake Station before Campbell dropped his oldest child off at Willowcreek Middle School, the affidavit said. The child told police his father "stopped the vehicle at the park and removed a bag that he took to an unknown location in the park. When he returned, he was not carrying the bag," the documents said. A police search of the park did not locate the bag.

Police said in the charging documents that there was no forced entry to the apartment and Thomas' fiancé found the deadbolt unlocked when he returned home from work, which was unusual because she always locked the door at night.

Campbell asked his oldest child to make sure he had his house key for a Nov. 6 overnight visit, the court document said.

Hammond Police Chief John Doughty said Campbell, a former Gary police officer, was hired Jan. 12 and was placed on administrative leave Nov. 18, after Portage police contacted him and said Campbell was a person of interest in Thomas' shooting death.

He was terminated from the Hammond department on Nov. 23. He previously worked as an officer with the Gary Police Department for four years, where he was a member of the department's Region STOP Team.

The day after Thomas' death, police released a picture of a 2003 black Ford with gray trim they said may have been at Thomas' apartment complex.

Court documents state that Portage detectives determined Campbell was driving the truck, which belonged to his father, because his vehicle was repossessed on Nov. 13.

Williams thanked police chiefs in Hammond, Gary and Portage, as well as Porter County Sheriff David Reynolds, for their assistance with the case, as well as his department's detectives.

"I would like to extend my sympathies to the Thomas family for the loss of Tiara," Williams said. "This was a senseless crime which now leaves behind three children without a mother and four children without a father for much of their lives."

12042015 - News Article - Former cop charged in ex's killing

Also See:

11182015 - Tiara Thomas OIDV Murder, Portage Indiana - Gary/Hammond Indiana Police Officer Kevin Campbell Charged With Murder

01092018 - Tiara Thomas Murder - Trial Of Former Gary/Hammond Police Officer Kevin Campbell - CONVICTED

Former cop charged in ex's killing 

Post Tribune

December 04, 2015 - 3:36PM

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-charges-in-portage-killing-st-1204-20151203-story.html

Portage Police Chief Troy Williams said there might have been a financial motive for former Hammond and Gary police officer Kevin Campbell to take the life of his ex-girlfriend and the mother of three of his children, Tiara Thomas, last month in a Portage apartment complex.

Campbell, 31, of the 6100 block of Wisconsin Street in Hobart, was charged Wednesday and taken into custody shortly before 6 a.m. Thursday. Police arrested Campbell outside his home as he left to take his wife to work, Williams said at a Thursday press conference at the Portage Police Department.

Williams said Campbell ran from his driveway north to the side of his yard before he gave himself up. The Portage Police SWAT Team assisted with the arrest because though he was recently fired from the Hammond Police Department, he owned multiple firearms and still had soft body armor, Williams said.

Campbell was taken into custody and transported to Porter County Jail without further incident. The case has been assigned to Porter Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford. Because Campbell is charged with murder, it is expected he will be held without bond. His initial hearing is scheduled via videoconference for 3 p.m. Friday.

"Regrettably, Mr. Campbell was a police officer at the time of this crime and thus tarnished the badge. But make no mistake; Mr. Campbell stopped being a police officer the moment he pulled the trigger," Williams said. "In a time around the country when some have distrust for the police, Mr. Campbell did nothing to help that cause. I believe Mr. Campbell's callous and calculating actions go to show the type of person he truly is."

According to charging documents filed Wednesday, Campbell's vehicle had been repossessed and he and Thomas argued about his payment of $1,495 a month in child support and how the money was spent. He had a bank account balance of $7.58 at the time of Thomas' death, and police found numerous voicemails from creditors on his cellphone, the probable cause affidavit said.

"We believe there was some financial motive to this," Williams said. "There seem to be a lot of things that built up for Mr. Campbell. Being a police officer, you would hope he wouldn't take the type of action that he took."

Thomas, 30, was discovered by her fiance on her bedroom floor with several gunshot wounds around 7:30 a.m. Nov. 18 when her fiancé returned from work to their apartment in the 5900 block of Old Porter Road in the Park Place apartment complex.

She died a short time later at Methodist Hospital Northlake Campus in Gary. She suffered gunshot wounds to the chest, head and both wrists.

"As our investigation progressed, Tiara's ex-husband, Kevin A. Campbell, became a person of interest due to several deceptive and misleading statements that we knew to be false," Williams said. Police said those statements had to do with the whereabouts of Campbell's cellphone, which according to charging documents was found with Campbell's father when the two went to the police station for questioning the day of the murder.

"As our case continued and as our evidence mounted, it became clear that Mr. Campbell was the main suspect," Williams said.

Campbell had his children with Thomas, who lived with her, stay at his Hobart residence the night before the murder, the affidavit said.

The court document said he left his residence at 4:37 a.m. Nov. 18, drove to Thomas' apartment, where his cellphone pinged to a nearby cell tower at 5:38 a.m., and returned home at 5:55 a.m. in time to get his children ready to attend school in Portage.

Thomas' fiancé told police it was unusual for Campbell to have the children overnight during the week because he would have to get up early and drive the children back to Portage for school.

The return trip to Portage the day of Thomas' death included a stop at Columbus Park in Lake Station before Campbell dropped his oldest child off at Willowcreek Middle School, the affidavit said. The child told police his father "stopped the vehicle at the park and removed a bag that he took to an unknown location in the park. When he returned, he was not carrying the bag," the documents said. A police search of the park did not locate the bag.

Police said in the charging documents that there was no forced entry to the apartment and Thomas' fiancé found the deadbolt unlocked when he returned home from work, which was unusual because she always locked the door at night.

Campbell asked his oldest child to make sure he had his house key for a Nov. 6 overnight visit, the court document said.

Hammond Police Chief John Doughty said Campbell, a former Gary police officer, was hired Jan. 12 and was placed on administrative leave Nov. 18, after Portage police contacted him and said Campbell was a person of interest in Thomas' shooting death.

He was terminated from the Hammond department on Nov. 23. He previously worked as an officer with the Gary Police Department for four years, where he was a member of the department's Region STOP Team.

The day after Thomas' death, police released a picture of a 2003 black Ford with gray trim they said may have been at Thomas' apartment complex.

Court documents state that Portage detectives determined Campbell was driving the truck, which belonged to his father, because his vehicle was repossessed on Nov. 13.

Williams thanked police chiefs in Hammond, Gary and Portage, as well as Porter County Sheriff David Reynolds, for their assistance with the case, as well as his department's detectives.

"I would like to extend my sympathies to the Thomas family for the loss of Tiara," Williams said. "This was a senseless crime which now leaves behind three children without a mother and four children without a father for much of their lives."

12042015 - News Article - Former cop charged in ex-wife's slaying Woman was mother of former Hammond, Gary officer's 3 children

Also See:

11182015 - Tiara Thomas OIDV Murder, Portage Indiana - Gary/Hammond Indiana Police Officer Kevin Campbell Charged With Murder

01092018 - Tiara Thomas Murder - Trial Of Former Gary/Hammond Police Officer Kevin Campbell - CONVICTED

Former cop charged in ex-wife's slaying 
Woman was mother of former Hammond, Gary officer's 3 children
Post-Tribune (IN)
December 4, 2015
www.newsbank.com
Portage Police Chief Troy Williams said there might have been a financial motive for former Hammond and Gary police officer Kevin Campbell to take the life of his ex-wife and the mother of three of his children, Tiara Thomas, last month in a Portage apartment complex.

Campbell, 31, of the 6100 block of Wisconsin Street in Hobart, was charged Wednesday and taken into custody shortly before 6 a.m. Thursday. Police arrested Campbell outside his home as he left to take his wife to work, Williams said at a Thursday news conference at the Portage Police Department.

Williams said Campbell ran from his driveway north to the side of his yard before he gave himself up. The Portage Police SWAT Team assisted with the arrest because though he was recently fired from the Hammond Police Department, he owned multiple firearms and still had soft body armor, Williams said.

Campbell was taken into custody and transported to Porter County Jail without further incident. The case has been assigned to Porter Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford. Because Campbell is charged with murder, it is expected he will be held without bond. His initial hearing is scheduled via videoconference for 3 p.m. Friday.

"Regrettably, Mr. Campbell was a police officer at the time of this crime and thus tarnished the badge. But make no mistake; Mr. Campbell stopped being a police officer the moment he pulled the trigger," Williams said. "In a time around the country when some have distrust for the police, Mr. Campbell did nothing to help that cause. I believe Mr. Campbell's callous and calculating actions go to show the type of person he truly is."

According to charging documents filed Wednesday, Campbell's vehicle had been repossessed and he and Thomas argued about his payment of $1,495 a month in child support and how the money was spent. He had a bank account balance of $7.58 at the time of Thomas' death, and police found numerous voicemails from creditors on his cellphone, the probable cause affidavit said.

"We believe there was some financial motive to this," Williams said. "There seem to be a lot of things that built up for Mr. Campbell. Being a police officer, you would hope he wouldn't take the type of action that he took."

Thomas, 30, was discovered by her fiance on her bedroom floor with several gunshot wounds around 7:30 a.m. Nov. 18 when her fiance returned from work to their apartment in the 5900 block of Old Porter Road in the Park Place apartment complex.

She died a short time later at Methodist Hospital Northlake Campus in Gary. She suffered gunshot wounds to the chest, head and both wrists.

"As our investigation progressed, Tiara's ex-husband, Kevin A. Campbell, became a person of interest due to several deceptive and misleading statements that we knew to be false," Williams said. Police said those statements had to do with the whereabouts of Campbell's cellphone, which according to charging documents was found with Campbell's father when the two went to the police station for questioning the day of the murder.

"As our case continued and as our evidence mounted, it became clear that Mr. Campbell was the main suspect in his ex-wife's homicide," Williams said.

Campbell had his children with Thomas, who lived with her, stay at his Hobart residence the night before the murder, the affidavit said.

The court document said he left his residence at 4:37 a.m. Nov. 18, drove to Thomas' apartment, where his cellphone pinged to a nearby cell tower at 5:38 a.m., and returned home at 5:55 a.m. in time to get his children ready to attend school in Portage.

Thomas' fiance told police it was unusual for Campbell to have the children overnight during the week because he would have to get up early and drive the children back to Portage for school.

The return trip to Portage the day of Thomas' death included a stop at Columbus Park in Lake Station before Campbell dropped his oldest child off at Willowcreek Middle School, the affidavit said.

The child told police his father "stopped the vehicle at the park and removed a bag that he took to an unknown location in the park. When he returned, he was not carrying the bag," the documents said. A police search of the park did not locate the bag.

Police said in the charging documents that there was no forced entry to the apartment and Thomas' fiance found the deadbolt unlocked when he returned home from work, which was unusual because she always locked the door at night.

Campbell asked his oldest child to make sure he had his house key for a Nov. 6 overnight visit, the court document said.

Hammond Police Chief John Doughty said Campbell, a former Gary police officer, was hired Jan. 12 and was placed on administrative leave Nov. 18, after Portage police contacted him and said Campbell was a person of interest in Thomas' shooting death.

He was terminated from the Hammond department on Nov. 23. He previously worked as an officer with the Gary Police Department for four years, where he was a member of the department's Region STOP Team.

The day after Thomas' death, police released a picture of a 2003 black Ford with gray trim they said may have been at Thomas' apartment complex.

Court documents state that Portage detectives determined Campbell was driving the truck, which belonged to his father, because his vehicle was repossessed on Nov. 13.

Williams thanked police chiefs in Hammond, Gary and Portage, as well as Porter County Sheriff David Reynolds, for their assistance with the case, as well as his department's detectives.

"I would like to extend my sympathies to the Thomas family for the loss of Tiara," Williams said. "This was a senseless crime which now leaves behind three children without a mother and four children without a father for much of their lives."

12042015 - News Article - Cop charged with murder ordered to avoid his three children

Also See:

11182015 - Tiara Thomas OIDV Murder, Portage Indiana - Gary/Hammond Indiana Police Officer Kevin Campbell Charged With Murder

01092018 - Tiara Thomas Murder - Trial Of Former Gary/Hammond Police Officer Kevin Campbell - CONVICTED

Cop charged with murder ordered to avoid his three children

NWI Times

December 04, 2015

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/cop-charged-with-murder-ordered-to-avoid-his-three-children/article_083164ea-3363-5a35-a598-3f2a87bc68b8.html

VALPARAISO | Former police officer Kevin Campbell was ordered by a court Friday to avoid contact with his children as he faces a charge of killing their mother.

Campbell hesitated a moment before responding, "Yes your honor," to the order issued by Porter Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford.

The order came during an initial hearing for Campbell, 31, held via a videoconferencing system.

Campbell was represented by defense attorney Roy Dominguez, who attended the short hearing along with Porter County Prosecutor Brian Gensel.

A preliminary plea of not guilty was entered on Campbell's behalf and hearings were set for Feb. 8 and March 7.

Campbell will remain behind bars without bond as a result of the murder charge.

Campbell was arrested Thursday morning and charged with the slaying of Tiara Thomas, 30, who was found covered in blood about 7:30 a.m. Nov. 18 in her unit at Park Place Apartments, 5970 Old Porter Road in Portage. She was taken to Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus in Gary, where she was pronounced dead at 8:21 a.m. from gunshot wounds.

Court documents point to arguments over child support and other money-related matters as a motive.

Police believe Campbell shot Thomas sometime between 4:37 a.m. and 5:55 a.m., then took their three children to school.

The affidavit indicates Campbell kept the three children overnight at his home in Hobart the night before Thomas was killed. It also alleges Campbell requested his oldest child bring him a key to the apartment nearly two weeks before the homicide.

There was no forced entry into Thomas' apartment the morning she was killed, according to the court document.

Campbell paid Thomas nearly $1,500 per month in child support and the two often argued about the money and how it was spent, according to charging information. The charges indicate Campbell was in debt and his vehicle had been repossessed.

Campbell, a probationary officer, was fired from the job in the wake of the killing after being identified as a person of interest in the case.

Campbell was also a police officer on the Gary Police Department from Aug. 3, 2011 to Jan. 11, 2015, when he left to join the Hammond department.

12042015 - News Article - Former Hammond, Gary cop arrested, charged with Portage murder

Also See:

11182015 - Tiara Thomas OIDV Murder, Portage Indiana - Gary/Hammond Indiana Police Officer Kevin Campbell Charged With Murder

01092018 - Tiara Thomas Murder - Trial Of Former Gary/Hammond Police Officer Kevin Campbell - CONVICTED

Former Hammond, Gary cop arrested, charged with Portage murder

NWI Times
Dec 4, 2015 

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/former-hammond-gary-cop-arrested-charged-with-portage-murder/article_6519b3f2-6242-5cba-ba83-9df3b07e72a1.html

PORTAGE | A former Hammond and Gary police officer has been arrested and charged in the killing of the mother of three of his children.

Kevin Campbell, 31, of Hobart, was arrested Thursday morning by Portage police.

He is charged with murder in the slaying of Tiara Thomas, who was found covered in blood about 7:30 a.m. Nov. 18 in her unit at Park Place Apartments, 5970 Old Porter Road. She was taken to Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus in Gary, where she was pronounced dead at 8:21 a.m. from gunshot wounds.

The motive, according to court documents, points to arguments over child support and other money-related matters.

A probable cause affidavit filed Wednesday in Porter Superior Court alleges Campbell shot Thomas sometime between 4:37 a.m. and 5:55 a.m. Nov. 18, then took their three children to school.

Police interviewed the couple's oldest child, a middle school student. The child told investigators that on the way to school that morning, they stopped at Columbus Park in Lake Station where Campbell dumped a bag the child believed contained shoes and other unknown items at the park. Police have not recovered the bag.

The affidavit indicates Campbell kept the three children overnight the night before Thomas was killed, which was unusual. It also alleges Campbell requested his oldest child bring him a key to the apartment nearly two weeks before the killing.

There was no forced entry into Thomas' apartment the morning she was killed, according to the court document.

The affidavit states Campbell paid Thomas nearly $1,500 per month in child support and the two often argued about the money and how it was spent. The charges indicate Campbell was in debt and his vehicle had been repossessed.

Portage Police Chief Troy Williams confirmed in a Thursday news conference that finances seemed to be a motive, but declined further comments on the case.

Thomas was discovered by her fiance the morning of Nov. 18. He found her body on the floor of the bedroom. Police recovered three 9mm shell casings, two live 9mm rounds and two slugs that had exited Thomas' body in the bedroom. They also found two pillows with holes in them, which appeared were used in an attempt to muffle the noise from two of the gunshots, according to the affidavit.

Campbell was interviewed by Portage police that morning, but denied leaving his Hobart home before he took his children to school. However, his own home surveillance system indicated the front door of the home was opened at 4:37 a.m. and again at 5:55 a.m., according to the document. According to authorities, that gave him sufficient time to drive to Portage, shoot Thomas and return home before he woke the children to go to school.

Williams said Campbell was deceptive with police concerning the whereabouts of his cellphone the morning of Thomas' homicide.

That deception, Williams said, moved Campbell from a person of interest to the prime suspect in Thomas' murder.

Williams called Campbell's actions "callous and calculating."

He said Campbell was taken into custody just before 6 a.m. at his Hobart home.

Williams said that, knowing Campbell was a former police officer and had additional weapons and body armor, police decided to deploy a SWAT team to arrest Campbell. The SWAT team, along with Portage detectives and members of the Hobart Police Department, set up surveillance at Campbell's home about 4:30 a.m. Thursday.

Williams said they knew Campbell usually drove his current wife to work each morning and planned to arrest him as he left the house.

"Our operation execution went flawlessly," he said, adding Campbell attempted to run when he saw police, but soon gave up when he saw the home had been surrounded.

"We know the public wants their police officers held to a high standard and when something like this happens, involving a police officer, it cast a shadow over all of us," Williams said during the press conference. "I hope that the speed in which we were able to develop our case and obtain an arrest warrant and take Mr. Campbell into custody shows the public that it does not matter who you are. If you come to our city to commit a heinous crime such as this we will find you and we will arrest you."

Hammond's police chief said last week he fired Campbell, a probationary officer, who had been identified by authorities as a person of interest in a Portage homicide.

Police Chief John Doughty said the officer was put on leave and stripped of police powers Nov. 18 after Portage police informed Hammond police the man was a person of interest in the homicide investigation.

Campbell was also a police officer on the Gary Police Department from Aug. 3, 2011 to Jan. 11, 2015, when he left to join the Hammond department.

According to records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request from the city of Gary, while on the Gary department, Campbell had one written reprimand for an on duty car crash where he was found to be at fault. He also had two pending disciplinary actions, both involving charges of conduct unbecoming an officer.

Campbell left the department before disciplinary measures were carried out.