Indiana officer suspended 8 days for deleting phone messages

ANDERSON, Ind. (AP) - A central Indiana police officer has been suspended without pay for eight days for deleting telephone messages seeking police assistance.

The Herald Bulletin reports (http://bit.ly/1yv4hME ) the Anderson Safety Board voted unanimously Thursday to suspend Officer Nathan Smith for three violations of general orders.

Board attorney William Byer Jr. says Smith has 10 days to request a hearing or accept his suspension.

City documents show Smith was a desk officer at the city police headquarters. Chief Larry Crenshaw says Smith failed to complete necessary police reports, "purposely deleted" phone recordings requesting police assistance and left his assigned post without supervisory approval.

Byer says once the department realized there was a problem, staffers went over every call that had been missed. He says there should be no liability concerns for the city.

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Information from: The Herald Bulletin, http://www.theheraldbulletin.com