New Albany Police Merit Commission Meeting Summary - May 14, 2026
New Albany Police Merit Commission Meeting - May 14, 2026
The New Albany Police Department Merit Commission met on May 14, 2026. Because of a light outage in the council chambers, online viewers could hear but not see the proceedings. The board approved prior minutes, heard a department staffing report, approved a settlement-related promotional list resolution, disposed of two applicant matters, and approved two applicant testing dates.
Opening and Routine Business
- The board approved the April 9, 2026 meeting minutes by voice vote; one member abstained because they had been absent.
- Chief Bailey reported that Olivia Roquet graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy on April 24, 2026, and has returned to field training.
- Four officers - Campbell, Spicer, Showman, and DeLoch - are approved to begin training at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy on August 31, 2026, and are currently working in the field.
- Chief Bailey said Tim Wells came off the books, leaving current sworn strength at 69 against the goal of 75. He said the department must continue testing and recruiting to reach stable numbers.
Discussion Items
- Resolution 2026-1: The commission's attorney read the resolution, which addressed two grievances filed by the police union - transcribed as the "Federal Police of the New Orleans Police Department," an apparent transcription error - against the New Albany Police Department Merit Commission and the City of New Albany over the current promotion list. The parties reached a settlement requiring amendments to the promotional eligibility list effective November 13, 2025, through July 16, 2026, after which all ranks will be recalculated. Under the amendment, Officer Austin Big E and Officer Christopher Allerge (as transcribed) are added to the corporal eligibility list once they meet minimum qualifications. The sergeant list remains in effect except that Dick Carter, later referred to as Nick Carter, is placed first until July 16, 2026, and then is dropped from the list. The captain list remains in effect except that an individual transcribed as "their state" is placed first until July 16, 2026. Board members clarified that normal recalculation of scores for seniority and evaluations would continue; candidates still must meet the 75% composite scoring requirement to be promotable. The board also indicated that, for a corporal request for third shift, the process would start at the top of the amended list rather than resume where prior declines left off.
- The board reviewed and unanimously ratified the amended captain and sergeant applicant promotional eligibility list.
- Applicant 2026-47: The board voted to stop processing this candidate after a significant response on the lie detector test.
- Applicant 2026-49: The board voted to no longer pursue this candidate after the candidate was not recommended to continue into the interview process.
- Testing dates: Chief Bailey requested new applicant testing on June 27, August 22, and November 21, 2026. Members discussed recruiting challenges, the gap between August and November, and whether additional dates should be added later. The board approved only the June 27 and August 22 dates.
Key Outcomes
- Approved the April 9, 2026 minutes, with one abstention.
- Approved Resolution 2026-1 amending the promotional eligibility lists.
- Ratified the amended captain and sergeant applicant promotional eligibility list.
- Stopped processing applicant 2026-47 and declined to pursue applicant 2026-49.
- Approved June 27 and August 22, 2026 applicant testing dates; did not approve the requested November 21, 2026 date.
- The board adjourned and moved to interviews.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, we're almost ready. I'll tell you in just a second. We're ready. All right, we'll go ahead and officially call the police of New Orban Police Mayor Board Commission meeting to order. It's May the 14th, 2026. For those of you who are viewing online, we apologize. We've had it looks like a light outage here in the council chambers. Although you may not be able to see us, we hope that you will be able to hear us. And we do apologize. First item on the agenda is approval of the previous meeting's minutes, which was April the 9th. I'll make a motion. Motion has been made and seconded to approve. Any questions? All in favor, you should sign a voting aye. Those opposed, nay. And I do abstain because of my absence. Department report. Chief Bailey. Just a few things. Wanted to make the board aware that Olivia Roquet successfully completed the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, graduating on April 24th. So she has returned and is back in field training. Along those same lines, we have three individuals who have been approved for their time at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. I'm sorry, four people, Campbell, Spicer, Showman, DeLoch, they will all begin their training at ILEA on August 31st. So currently they are all in the field and training writing officers. I got Campbell Spice or DeLoch. Who was the other one? Shown. Sorry, a little fast on that. Yeah. Sorry. That's okay. And outside of that, everything else is going well. Under new business, I'll have a testing request, but I'll leave that for that time. What are our numbers like? Well, we just uh we just had Tim Wells uh go off of the books, which puts us to 69. And the goal is still always 75. When did he retire? He is officially off the books effective. Um I believe it was last Friday, but I'll have to check the I think it was Friday. Okay, if you could send me back. Sure. Yeah. Okay. Any questions for Chief Bailey? And those four that are done in the Academy will count after they get after may get through it. Are they part of the 69 or they're part of those numbers? Okay, okay. Yep. No, we still, I guess just uh along those lines we still need to uh continue to test and test off and to uh recruit the numbers we need to get stable. All right, thank you.
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