Officer Anthony Smith Suspended Indefinitely

INDIANAPOLIS

An IMPD officer has been suspended indefinitely following an internal investigation.

IMPD Chief Michael Spears has ordered 36-year-old Anthony Smith suspended without pay and has recommended his termination to the merit board.

A release from the department states that based on the findings of an internal investigation Chief Spears and Public Safety Director Scott Newman have determined that a criminal investigation is necessary. The prosecutor's office is apparently looking into the findings that apparently stem from a citizen complaint.

At a press conference Tuesday, Chief Spears said Smith violated a ride-along policy early last Friday morning on the east side. The chief declined to talk about the specific allegations but there was a rape investigation from the same morning in the same part of town. The victim's brother in the case said his sister was involved in a sexual assault with an officer, but said he could not comment further.

The chief only spoke generally about officer misconduct at the press conference.

"But when they consciously, intentionally step over the lines of our policies of good judgment and the law, I'm going to be the first person in the police department to do everything I can to separate them from that badge," said Spears.

Police said Smith has been with the department since April of '07. He was assigned to the northeast district late shift.