Richmond Common Council has asked the city’s police merit commission to create a policy to review Richmond Police Department officers placed on the county’s list of officers whose ability to testify in court is compromised.
The resolution passed 7-0 during council’s Sept. 2 meeting, with members Anne Taylor and Jerry Purcell abstaining. Taylor’s husband is RPD Chief Kyle Weatherly, and Purcell’s son William Purcell is an RPD officer.
Council member Doug Goss requested the city’s law department draft the resolution to create a standard of transparency through due process. The police merit commission is responsible for hiring, discipline and firing of RPD merit officers.
Prosecutor Mike Shipman placed RPD Major Adam Blanton on the Brady-Giglio list of officers whose court testimony could be impeached because of previous actions. Following two Supreme Court rulings, prosecutors are required to provide the impeachment information to defense counsel, reducing the officer’s ability to function. Shipman said two statements to the media by Blanton were untrue, one about victims of a homicide and one about a social media stunt.
Because Blanton was appointed to the department, he is not subject to merit commission review. Blanton, whose main duties are administrative, sued Shipman, seeking damages for being placed on the Brady-Giglio list; however, a Henry County judge acting as a special judge dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that Shipman had immunity because he acted within the functions of his office.
Taylor questioned the resolution, mentioning council overreach, grandstanding, political power plays, personal agendas and personal vendettas.
“This council was not created to pursue punitive actions against individuals or departments through symbolic votes that serve no practical purpose for the citizens we were elected to represent,” Taylor said.
Goss said he has no vendetta against Blanton.
“My purpose is the community’s confidence in the integrity of the Richmond Police Department. Period,” Goss said.
Purcell said that council does have authority to investigate police officers through state statute.
“I don’t think this is symbolic, and I think it’s an insult to the good officers — and most are — in this nation to sit here and say that this is symbolic,” he said.
A.J. Sickmann, the city attorney, said state legislation passed this year prohibits an officer from being disciplined or fired simply because of being put on a Brady-Giglio list; however, the actions that led to placement on the list are subject to discipline. The merit commission reviews officer actions when presented by the chief.
Biking update
Barry Cramer and Christina Allen, who oversees a safe routes to school program for Purdue Extension, addressed council about bicycling and walking in Richmond.
A bikeability and walkability group meets at 11 a.m. the second Thursday of each month in the Hutton Room on the Richmond Municipal Building’s second floor.
Cramer said the group will soon be working on planning bicycle boulevards for low-traffic, low-speed streets. The safe routes program to help children become healthier is part of Health First Indiana, and is losing funding for 2026.
Build, operate, transfer
Council unanimously passed an ordinance enabling city departments to use the build-operate-transfer method to select project contractors based on qualifications. The contractor would be brought into the project early and oversee its many phases.
Denise Retz, the parks superintendent, brought the ordinance to council as the best path forward for the complex Whitewater Gorge activation project.
Justin Burkhardt, chair of council’s finance committee, said the committee was assured that council would retain oversight because once a contractor is selected, it would be brought to council for approval.
Fire merit commission
Council amended an ordinance creating a fire merit commission before unanimously passing the ordinance.
The amendment specifies that the merit commission shall oversee the ranks of firefighter up to and including battalion chief. The merit commission would oversee hiring, promotions and discipline of firefighters that now is under the city’s Board of Public Works and Safety.
A version of this article appeared in the September 10 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.