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Terre Haute officer's suspension over mayor's race tossed

Posted November 23, 2015 6:00 am

The Associated Press

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) - The two-day suspension of a Terre Haute Police Department officer for a Facebook post about the city's mayoral election has been overturned.

The department's merit board voted unanimously to remove the suspension of Lt. Gary Shook from his record and reinstate his two days of lost pay.

Shook received the suspension after he made a Facebook post last month asking the public to vote for Democratic candidate Mark Bird and criticizing Republican incumbent Duke Bennett's leadership and financial actions. A disciplinary letter sent to Shook by Police Chief John Plasse said he violated department policies on political activity and use of social media.

Board member Tony Bauer said the suspension was a violation of Shook's First Amendment rights.

Bennett won re-election by 315 votes.

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