Sergeant suspended

Nov. 27 brought Sgt. Russell Brummett an unexpected and unwelcomed leave of absence from his job at the Monroe County Sheriff's Department. \nSheriff Steven Sharp brought charges against Brummett and recommended he be dismissed from the sheriff's department for his participation and assistance in an alleged domestic assault. Brummett is serving a 60-day unpaid suspension without reduction in rank for withholding information from a department investigation. \n"I did request dismissal because all officers swear an oath and he violated that oath," Sharp said.\nAll Monroe county sheriffs, Sharp said, swear to uphold United States and Indiana state laws whether on or off duty. The merit board decided unanimously to suspend Brummett.\nThe suspension stemmed from a July 8 incident when the off-duty sergeant was camping with friends and relatives at Paynetown State Campground. During the trip, a campground security officer reported an alleged assault at 4 p.m., according to the police report. \nJerome Jacquard reported he was punched by Brummett's friend Brad Gilliland while sleeping next to Gilliland's now ex-wife, according to a letter written by Sharp to Brummett. Brummett reported seeing Gilliland while leaving the campground and offered him lodging for the night. Gilliland was has not been charged with the assault.\nBrummett admitted to being at the campsite and removing his friend from the domestic dispute.\n"I never did witness a battery, I just wanted to stay out of the picture," Brummett said.\nAn internally convened merit board determined Brummett assisted the alleged perpetrator in leaving the scene of the battery, failed to report the battery to any other law enforcement officer and filed a false report of the incident.\n"He was just at the wrong place at the wrong time," Herbert Kilmer, a merit board member said.\n"Russell Brummett is a good officer but got into a situation where he was protecting his friend, but crossed the boundaries of his profession," Kilmer said.\nLegal Deputy Loren Reuter assisted Sheriff Sharp while preparing legal documents.\n"The correct procedures were followed and the merit board came to a decision," Reuter said.\n"I assisted the sheriff with all the facts we had. Considering our situation, our case was strengthened," he said.\nReuter denied comment concerning Brummett's 60-day suspension.\nBrummett said he realizes he might not have made the right decision.\n"I know I've made a mistake and I've accepted the punishment handed down to me," he said. "I left information out of my statement to keep myself uninvolved."\nBrummett also said he feels that Sheriff Sharp tried to pinpoint him for termination.\n"Sheriff Sharp is the only one who kept pushing this," he said.\nSharp requested punishment for Brummett because an investigation into Brummett's involvement produced inconsistencies.\n"I've heard comments indirectly that Sheriff Sharp wants to get rid of officers who have been here for more than 10 years," Brummett said.\nBrummett mentioned an unrelated case where a Monroe County officer driving a county vehicle was stopped after exceeding speeds of 70 mph on State Road 46. It was discovered the officer had been drinking and was punished with a 15-day suspension. Brummett is confused as to why his case was taken to the merit board and this case was not.\n"To me this is a more serious offense. What would have happened if the officer had gotten into a wreck?" Brummett said.\n"I'll just let the record speak for itself," Sheriff Sharp said in response. "From my perspective he violated three charges and was found guilty for them."\nSharp refused to comment on Brummett's statement suggesting favoritism toward newer officers.