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Board attorney presents draft rules for Edinburgh police commission
Summary
At its Jan. 27 meeting the Edinburgh Board of Metropolitan Police Commissioners heard an initial draft of rules and procedures from board attorney Brian Alaf covering applicant qualifications, scoring preferences for veterans and families of fallen officers, discipline tied to Indiana law, and a proposed pension review-board role. The commission agreed to revisit the draft in March.
Brian Alaf, the board attorney for the Edinburgh Board of Metropolitan Police Commissioners, presented an initial draft of rules and procedures at the board's Jan. 27 meeting, distributing copies to commissioners, the town manager and the chief of police.
Alaf summed up the document as an opening proposal that would require further review and a future vote. "I did before the meeting started hand out a copy of what I would call a the initial draft of the Edinburgh Board of Metropolitan Police Commissioners rules and procedures," he said, and walked the board through sections on applicant qualifications, testing, screening and scoring.
Why it matters: the rules would establish the commission's formal approach to hiring, promotions and discipline for the Edinburgh Police Department. Several provisions discussed could affect who advances in hiring and how disciplinary reviews are conducted, and commissioners said the town council and department leadership should review the language before any vote.
Alaf drew attention to a proposed "special composite score" adjustment that would give additional scoring to honorably discharged U.S. military veterans and to children of officers who died in the line of duty, describing those as examples of preferential scoring other cities use. He also said the draft incorporates a recently established pension review board and includes a rule-of-procedure section on discipline that cites the Indiana Code and proposes processes for performance ratings.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about local ranks and promotions; Alaf noted he had listed common ranks (sergeant, lieutenant, captain) in the draft but that Edinburgh currently uses deputy chief and does not have captains, and said the rules can be adapted to local structure. He also recommended the commission collaborate with the town council to determine whether the council or the department should adopt a formal performance-rating system.
Board members raised the question of whether the draft should restrict political activity by officers. Alaf said some municipalities limit political actions while in uniform and suggested the commission decide how strict to be in its local rules.
No rule was adopted at the meeting. Commissioners confirmed the draft had already been shared with the town council and agreed to return to the rules for further discussion at the March 12 meeting. The board also discussed a plan to advertise and accept applications and to hold public comment as part of future review.
What happens next: the commission will continue to review the draft with input from the chief of police, the town manager and the town attorney and will revisit the rules at the next substantive meeting on March 12.
