Last summer, the university asked the Indiana State Police to review several allegations of misconduct involving the campus police department. The probe began in August and ended this week, when investigators gave a report to Delaware County Prosecutor Rick Reed. Reed announced Wednesday he found no basis for criminal charges.

"Any time allegations like these arise, we take them very seriously," said Douglas McConkey, the vice president for student affairs and enrollment management. "We are satisfied the state police conducted a thorough and objective investigation. We are tremendously grateful for their hard work."

"The most important conclusion from this investigation is that the prosecutor saw no reason for criminal charges," said Ball State President Blaine A. Brownell. "However, I have asked an eight-member advisory group to determine whether, in two instances, university policies and standards were violated."

The group will assess one possible incident of conduct unbecoming an officer and will review potential irregularities in the submission of time sheets by two officers. Brownell asked the group for recommendations within one month of its first meeting.

"This group includes three members from outside the university, which, I believe, ensures we are continuing the objective approach we began with the state police investigation," Brownell said.

The external members of the group are, Grant County Sheriff Oatess Archey, who served 20 years in the FBI; Hurley Goodall, a retired Muncie firefighter and former state legislator; and Scott Shockley, an attorney for DeFur Voran Hanley Radcliff and Reed, a Muncie law firm that represents Ball State.

University members are, Norm Beck, Ball State's associate vice president for human resources and auxiliary services; Judy Lowe, an assistant professor and a member of the University Senate's public safety committee; Sali Falling, director of university compliance; Cpl. Sandy Pyle, an officer in the public safety department; and Randy Hyman, the associate vice president for student services and dean of students.

If the group recommends action against department personnel, the recommendations must proceed through the university's normal disciplinary process.

"The advisory group will provide some short-term guidance, but more important for the long-range future of the department will be our comprehensive program review," McConkey said.

The comprehensive review will consider the appropriate role and scope of a public safety department in our educational setting, McConkey added.

"The program review, which is composed of three phases, will also look at the department's hiring practices, training, leadership and management," McConkey said.

The initial, self-study phase is underway. It should be completed by the end of March, when focus groups will provide feedback on their interactions with the public safety department. The final phase calls for an external expert to review the information gathered in the first two phases, make independent observations and issue a report that may recommend changes in the department.

The university plans to conclude the review in May.

"The state police investigation, the advisory group and the comprehensive program review are all important steps in assuring the integrity of our police department," Brownell said. "We are committed to embracing a spirit of cooperation and progress that will help us achieve our goal of having one of the finest university public safety departments in the country."

By Glenn Augustine, Associate Director

(EDITOR'S NOTE: For more information on this story, contact Douglas McConkey at (765) 285-1444. After hours, contact Glenn Augustine, associate director of university relations at (765) 748-4822 or Heather Shupp, executive director of university relations at (765) 748-4823.)