SEYMOUR — A special prosecutor has charged two Seymour police officers with ghost employment, official misconduct and theft as the result of a four-month investigation, police report.
Former Police Chief Bill Abbott and current Capt. Carl Lamb have been on administrative leave during the investigation that was started in October 2019 by the Indiana State Police.
The charges, which are all Level 6 felonies, stem from a review of that investigation conducted by a special prosecutor, according to a news release from Sgt. Stephen Wheeles with the Indiana State Police Versailles Post.
Wheeles, the post’s public information officer, reported during the investigation, detectives were able to determine Abbott was employed by Schneck Medical Center to schedule off-duty officers to provide security at the Seymour hospital. That investigation indicated Abbott allegedly performed his duties for Schneck while also working in his official capacity with the police department.
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Investigators also were able to determine Lamb, while on duty with the police department, allegedly worked outside employment for K4 Security of Jeffersonville, Wheeles reported.
That firm had a contract to provide off-duty officers for work in a construction zone on Interstate 65. Lamb coordinated and scheduled off-duty Seymour officers to work the security job while he was on duty with the police department, and he was paid by both the city and security firm, according to the news release.
Lamb also was a part-owner and employee of a Seymour company, B Safe Tactical Training, which provides training to area schools, churches and businesses. Investigators were able to determine Lamb received payment from that company while he also was on duty in his capacity with the police department.
Abbott and Lamb were arrested Wednesday. Abbott was booked into the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown at 12:53 p.m. Wednesday and released on a $1,505 bond at 1:17 p.m. Lamb was booked into the jail at 12:23 p.m. Wednesday and released at 12:48 p.m. after posting a $1,505 bond.
Neither officer was able to be reached for comment.
A Level 6 felony is punishable by six months to two and a half years in jail upon conviction.
