Supervision Blamed in Ind. Officer's Alleged Misconduct

April 21, 2011
The man who sparked a criminal investigation into a former Capitol police officer accused of sleeping on the job and rifling through personal items at the Indiana governor's residence blames poor supervision for allowing the misconduct to continue.

INDIANAPOLIS --

The man who sparked a criminal investigation into a former Capitol police officer accused of sleeping on the job and rifling through personal items at the Indiana governor's residence blames poor supervision for allowing the misconduct to continue.

Bradley Craig originally leveled the allegations against a former co-worker, Mike Bates, in a resignation letter sent Saturday to Indiana State Police Superintendent Paul Whitesell.

Craig kept meticulous notes and began video and audio tapings beginning in July 2010 of what he claimed were the actions of Bates while the two worked security detail at the official home of Gov. Mitch Daniels and his wife, Cheri Daniels.

Craig told 6News' Jack Rinehart that he declined to answer questions from a state police investigator who came to his home Wednesday, months after he felt the previous incidents he reported to a supervisor went unheeded.

"(The supervisor's) response to me on all those was he didn't care if he was sleeping in the shack, as long as he wasn't sleeping in the house," Craig said.

Craig said Bates admitted that a supervisor had found him asleep two nights in a row in March, but said he apparently did not report the incidents.

Over the past year, Craig said, he rarely saw his supervisor.

"I probably saw the supervisor up there four or five times during the entire time I was assigned up there," he said.

Craig also detailed an additional incident on April 3, when he claimed that Bates went into the governor's bedroom and began opening drawers, first pulling out a pair of men's underwear and making inappropriate comments about them.

Craig recounted another incident in which he claimed Bates had taken a shower while on the job at the governor's residence, along with a couple of additional instances in which he claimed Bates ate food from the refrigerator.

Craig said Bates also left his post while on duty, essentially leaving no security at the residence, which Craig said he discovered when he arrived early for his shift.

Craig said he felt he had no choice but to resign after the incidents were not addressed.

"It was made very clear to me by statements (by state police) that the No. 1 priority is the protection of the image of that agency, no matter what," Craig said.

Three weeks before Craig went public with the accusations against his former co-worker, Capitol police gave Craig a perfect review.

"He consistently conducts himself in a professional manner with his peers, superiors and the public," the review read. "Officer Craig also displays poise and controls his emotions in adverse situations. Officer Craig is able to identify problems and determine the necessary actions."

State police said Bates resigned from the department April 12.

Rinehart found him at a home on Indianapolis' northwest side Wednesday. The person who came to the door said Bates was not available because he was sleeping.

Poor Supervision Blamed In Officer's Alleged Misconduct

Copyright 2011 by TheIndyChannel.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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