St. Joseph County Sheriff Bill Redman has requested the termination of two county police officers after they made “incomplete and false” statements about a deadly car crash in February.
(Read more in the release from the St. Joseph County Police below.)
Saint Joseph County Sheriff Bill Redman today filed formal charging papers with the County Police Merit Board requesting the Merit Board terminate the employment of two County Police officers,Corporal Brad Bauters and Corporal James Hart. On February 5, 2021, the two officers responded totwo traffic accidents involving Stephen Stopczynski. The first occurred at approximately 3:00 p.m.,while the second occurred at approximately 7:45 p.m. Through an internal investigation, it was laterdiscovered that the officers intentionally omitted from their officer reports certain facts regarding signsof impairment exhibited by Stopczynski at the earlier incident, and later made false statements duringthe internal investigation.
"As a result of these two officer's incomplete and false statements made about the incidents that occurred on February 5, 2021, I've made my own decision to terminate them for their actions,” saidSheriff Redman. “I have an obligation to maintain public trust and the accountability of our officers toour citizens. I believe these officers’ actions were isolated and do not reflect on the many other honestand dedicated officers of the St. Joseph County Police Department."
Sheriff Redman also said, "I would also like to extend my thoughts and prayers to Kassandra Zwierzynski and her children, especially to Giuliana, as she continues to heal and recover from herinjuries. And also, to the Stopczynski Family for the loss of Stephen."
Prior to terminating their employment as police officers with the department, the Sheriff is
required by state law to submit written formal charges to the Merit Board and provide the officers withan opportunity to have a hearing before the Merit Board. The charges filed by the Sheriff allegeviolation of department polices including Truthfulness, Internal Investigations, Reporting, and ConductUnbecoming an Officer.
On February 6, 2021 after receiving an anonymous tip that County officers had an interaction with Stephen Stopczynski several hours prior to his involvement in a crash resulting in his death, SheriffRedman ordered an investigation into the earlier incident on Crumstown Highway near Pine Road.Corporals Bauters and Hart submitted formal officer reports detailing their interaction and observationsduring the 3 p.m. incident. In each report, the officers stated that they did not witness any signs ofintoxication or impairment by Stopczynski.
Based on these officer reports, the St. Joseph County Police Public Information Liaison issued a statement on March 10, 2021 to a local news outlet. The March 10th statement said that the officers didnot witness any signs of intoxication during the 3 p.m. incident.
On March 16th, following the completion of the FACT (Fatal Alcohol Crash Team) investigation into the fatal evening crash, Chief Shepherd ordered the County Police Detective Bureau to locate and interview anyone who came into contact with Stopczynski on February 5th and create a timeline of hisactions and whereabouts during that day. After interviewing witnesses whose testimony was inconsistentwith information provided by Bauters and Hart in their officer reports, County Police broadened theinvestigation to include the actions and statements made by Cpl. Bauters and Cpl. Hart on and followingFebruary 5, 2021. On March 26, 2021, both officers were suspended from duty.
The internal investigation included interviews of 21 individuals by a County Police investigator, including the two individuals who picked up and dropped off Stopczynski in the afternoon, the propertyowner where the 3 p.m. incident occurred, tavern owners & employees, and officers of the CountyPolice Department. Based upon the full investigation, which included polygraph examinations, CountyPolice now know that the initial officer reports and, consequently, the Department’s March 10thstatement, were incomplete and misleading.
Specifically, where Cpl. Bauters had stated in his report that Stopczynski “wasn’t stumbling or falling over on a somewhat icy driveway,” he later admitted that he saw Stopczynski shuffling orstumbling around as he was getting things out of his car, and that he noticed Stopczynski was offbalance. Cpl. Bauters also admitted that he told the person who picked up Stopczynski, “I’m cutting hima break.” Where Cpl. Hart had stated in his officer’s report that Stopczynski “told me he had not beendrinking,” Hart later admitted that, after pressing Stopczynski further, Stopczynski told Hart, “I had onebeer after work.” After further questioning, Cpl. Hart also admitted that, after he and Bauters left thescene of the 3 p.m. incident, they met up a little further down the road and, during their discussion,Bauters said that he thought that Stopczynski was intoxicated.
Sheriff Redman said “I am glad that the officers separated the subject from his vehicle and made him get a ride home. However, the officers certainly could have done a more thorough job during theearlier incident. I wish they had owned up to that in the days following it, instead of trying to hide it.Due to those actions, I have no choice but to terminate them based upon their dishonesty during ourinvestigation.”
“The citizens of Saint Joseph County, whom we are sworn to protect and serve, have a right to expect absolute integrity from our officers,” said Sheriff Redman. “We strive every day to meet theseexpectations. In this case, two of our officers fell demonstrably short.”
Also, effective today Sheriff has placed both officers on the maximum allowable 15-days of unpaid suspension. Indiana law requires at least 14-days pass between the receipt of charges by theofficer and the Merit Board hearing on the matter. That hearing date has not yet been set. James Hart hasbeen the department since August 2013 and Brad Bauters since June 2014.
