Merit board reinstates officer in NIU rape case

A civil service merit board has determined a Northern Illinois University police lieutenant fired for failing to give prosecutors two witness statements in a rape case can return to work.

Kartik Ramakrishnan was dismissed after he failed to reveal statements from friends of a woman who claimed she was raped by a university police officer. The friends said the woman and the officer were in a consensual relationship.

The (DeKalb) Daily Chronicle reports NIU officials could appeal the decision. NIU spokesman Paul Palian said NIU officials haven’t received the University Civil Service Merit Board’s written decision.

The board determined NIU couldn’t fire Ramakrishnan because former Chief Donald Grady had already disciplined him.

Grady was fired in February in connection with the rape case.