Ron Meer
PRESSRELEASE
Mayor’s Office • 100 East Michigan Blvd. • Michigan City, IN 46360 • (219) 873-1400• Fax: (219) 873-1515
www.emichigancity.com
For Immediate Release
Date: June 17, 2014
Phone: (219) 873-1400
Fax: (219) 873-1515
Contact: Kalon Kubik
ALLEGED EAVEDROPPING REFERRED FOR
INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION
On June 17, 2014, Mayor Ron Meer, in consultation with Chief Mark Swistek and Corporation Counsel John Espar, requested an independent investigation into the allegations that several investigators may have improperly overheard confidential conversations between murder suspect Brian Taylor and his attorney David Payne in violation of state and federal laws. The request for an independent investigation was made to the Indiana State Police. According to Chief Swistek, the State Police has agreed to conduct an investigation of the matter.
The decision to refer the matter to the State Police for an independent investigation is not an acknowledgment that the officers or prosecutor involved engaged in wrongdoing. In fact, Deputy Prosecutor Patricia Bishop and Deputy Prosecutor Bethany Beckman have maintained in documents filed with La Porte Superior Court 1 that the confidential statements between Taylor and his attorney were inadvertently overheard while the two occupied an interrogation room in the Michigan City Police Department.
However, in light of the Court’s ruling on Tuesday morning, the question whether the confidential conversations of an attorney and his client were accidentally or intentionally overheard should be made by an independent agency.
The Michigan City Police Department has taken great strides to gain the respect, confidence and support of the greater-Michigan City community. An independent investigation of potential wrongdoing within the department is the best way to assure that we maintain that level of confidence. Thank you Mayor Meer