Evansville Police Merit Commission Meeting - August 10, 2026
Evansville Police Merit Commission Meeting - August 10, 2026
The Evansville Police Merit Commission held a meeting on August 10, 2026, at 4:56 PM in Room 307 of the Civic Center Complex. The meeting covered routine approvals, a disciplinary action, a promotional process accommodation, certification of applicant scores, and resignations. The commission voted to recommend termination of an officer despite the agenda listing a 21-day suspension.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The minutes from July 27, 2026, were approved by a unanimous vote.
- Approval of Claims: Claims totaling $1,061.72 were approved by a unanimous vote.
- Probationary Officer Update: The commission received an update on probationary officers in field training and the SWILEA program.
Discussion Items
- New Discipline (26-PDO-11 and 26-PDO-11A) – Officer Anthony Stephenson: The agenda listed a proposed 21-day suspension for Officer Anthony Stephenson (Badge 1596). However, during the meeting, a commissioner made a motion to recommend termination instead. The motion was seconded and passed with a vote of 4 in favor and 1 nay. The hearing for the termination recommendation was set for October 12, 2026, after discussion of commissioner and attorney availability.
- Promotional Process – ADA Accommodation Request: A request for ADA accommodations for a candidate taking the 2026 promotional written exam for sergeant, which had been tabled from the July 27 meeting, was reconsidered. The commission received supporting documentation from the attorney and voted unanimously to allow the accommodations.
- Applicant Process – Certification of Scores: The commission voted unanimously to certify the applicant scores from the July 2026 hiring process into the active eligibility list.
- Applicants – Removal of Candidates: The commission voted unanimously to remove three applicants (26-013, 26-059, and 26-186) from the applicant process.
- Resignations: The commission accepted the resignations of Officer Luke John Andrew Blome (Badge 1639), effective August 6, 2026, after serving 6 months and 25 days, and Officer Jordan Matthew Rundle (Badge 1600), effective August 13, 2026, after serving 2 years and 29 days.
Key Outcomes
- Termination Recommendation: The commission voted to recommend termination of Officer Anthony Stephenson, overriding the originally proposed 21-day suspension. The hearing is scheduled for October 12, 2026.
- ADA Accommodation Approved: The ADA accommodation request for the sergeant promotional exam was approved.
- Applicant Scores Certified: The July 2026 hiring process scores were certified into the eligibility list.
- Applicants Removed: Three applicants were removed from the applicant process.
- Resignations Accepted: Both resignations were accepted.
- Next Meeting: The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 24, 2026, at 4:15 PM in Room 307.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. So we are going to call the Evansville Police Merit Commission meeting to order at 4 56 p.m. Monday, August 10th. We'd like to acknowledge our guest. So if you would say your name. Philip Smith. Oh, Kirby. Scott Dillon. Mark Saltman. Jason Thompson. Commissioner DJ Thompson. Commissioner James Settings on the phone. Denise Johnson, Kincaid, Commissioner. Sergeant Dexter Wolf. Enjoy teachers. Okay. May I get approval of the minutes? I make motion. I'll second. Then motion for second. Okay. We're just saying. Oh, all in favor? Aye. Aye. Okay. Motion carries. Motion for a claims. Make a motion to approve claims of 1,061 and 72 cents. 1,000 sixty. Second. All in favor. Aye. Okay. Motion carries. We have received the update for the probationary officers in field training. That's why. We have a new discipline in front of us. 26-p DO-11. And 26 P that PO-11A for Officer Anthony Stevenson. Badge number one five nine six for a 21-day suspension. We'll make a motion. Oh, oh, oh. I'm making a recommendation. Making a recommendation for termination. For officer Stevenson. I second. I didn't call for the motion, but yes. You second. All in favor.
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