Private detective calls Ind. chief a 'Gomer Pyle'

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — A private detective hired by the family of a missing Indiana University student has made unflattering comments about Bloomington's police chief, including calling him a “Gomer Pyle.”

The Herald-Times reports former New York City police detective Richard “Bo” Dietl told the hosts of “Good Day New York” Friday that 20-year-old Lauren Spierer's family has hired him to investigate her June disappearance.

He was then asked about possible friction between local police and big city private investigators.

Dietl replied that he felt like he “was talking to Gomer Pyle” when he spoke to Chief Mike Diekhoff, comparing the chief to the naive, small-town character Jim Nabors portrayed on two television shows in the 1960s.

Diekhoff says he's “been called worse” and says his department continues to investigate Spierer's disappearance.