On Monday, Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard accepted the resignation of Police Chief Jeff Horner.
Horner
The resignation came just days after Deputy Police Chief Joe Bickel was suspended following an external investigation that uncovered three alleged incidents of inappropriate behavior. Horner has recommended Bickel’s firing, and Mayor Brainard agreed.
Regarding Horner’s resignation from his appointed position as chief, he will remain on the force in his merit position as a lieutenant.
Residents respond
Editor’s note: The following quotations were provided by WISH-TV.
Carmel resident Gale Runberg said of Horner, “I believe he has a lot of experience, and Carmel can benefit from him staying on.”
Runberg also said, “I was very disappointed, very disappointed, but glad he took responsibility.”
Other Carmel residents who talked with WISH-TV News 8 say they want more transparency.
“I think I’m a little sadder than frustrated,” Bryndon Preston said. “I like transparency. That’s how I live my life.”
Preston added, “I would like to see them continue that journey of transparency and integrity and communication because I think we can work through almost anything if we communicate and are good to each other.”
Barlow steps back in
Barlow
Mayor Brainard has appointed retired Carmel Police Chief Jim Barlow to serve as interim chief until a permanent replacement is chosen.
Barlow served as Chief from June 2017 until January of this year when he retired. Under his leadership, the Department received its eighth award from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies for continuing to meet the highest professional standards for public safety. During his time with the Department, he served as one of the department’s firearms instructors for more than 30 years and he spent 20 years as part of the SWAT team, six of those years as SWAT Commander.