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Elkhart places corporal on administrative leave, swears in special officer and renews FARO scanner contract
Summary
Interim Police Chief Andy Whitmire told the board July 14 that Corporal Keppel was placed on paid administrative leave effective June 30 pending an Elkhart County Sheriff's Office criminal investigation and an internal probe; the board also sworn in Anthony Tweedy as a special officer and approved renewal of a FARO 3‑D scanner contract not to exceed $49,992.35.
The City of Elkhart Board of Public Safety on July 14 approved placing an Elkhart police corporal on paid administrative leave effective June 30 while an Elkhart County Sheriff's Office criminal investigation and an internal Elkhart Police professional standards review proceed.
Interim Chief Andy Whitmire told the board that Corporal Keppel was placed on leave pending those investigations; a board member moved to place the officer on paid administrative leave, the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The transcript records the leave as effective June 30 and specifies both the county criminal investigation and an internal professional‑standards inquiry.
At the same meeting the board administered the oath to Anthony Tweedy, who was sworn in as a special police officer for the Elkhart Police Department. During the oath Mr. Tweedy repeated the standard pledge to support the U.S. Constitution and the Indiana Constitution and to observe city rules and regulations.
The board also approved renewal of the department’s FARO 3‑D crime‑scene imaging system contract and the purchase of a new FARO scanner. Interim Chief Whitmire described the FARO system as “3‑D imaging for major crime scenes that allows us to take the module, put it down, and make exacting measurements that are accepted within law enforcement and the courts.” The board approved the renewal and purchase not to exceed $49,992.35 under quote number 6021369 and requested Captain Travis Snyder sign the physical document on the city’s behalf.
Why it matters: The administrative leave reflects active investigations and will be followed by internal procedures; renewing FARO maintains a technology tool the chief said is used to document major crime scenes and provide court‑admissible measurements.
Procedure and next steps: The leave and contract renewal were approved by voice vote. The internal and county investigations will determine any further personnel actions; the FARO purchase will proceed under the approved quote and the designated signing authority.
Representative quote: “FARO system is 3‑D imaging for major crime scenes that allows us to take the module, put it down, and make exacting measurements that are accepted within law enforcement and the courts,” Chief Whitmire said.
