Staff reports
One of two Columbus police officers recently arrested by Indiana State Police after an investigation into ghost employment, has retired from Columbus Police Department effective Sunday.
Dan Meister, 46, 952 Jackson St., Hope, was arrested Feb. 21 by Indiana State Police along with retired officer Ron May, 58, 8015 S. County Road 875W, on charges of official misconduct, ghost employment and theft, according to court documents.
An allegation was made in September 2018 that Meister had been compensated for working at CPD and Columbus Regional Hospital at the same time, according to court documents. An internal review of work hours of all officers working at the secondary employer was conducted, resulting in the internal investigation being expanded to include May, court documents stated.
The investigation was turned over to Indiana State Police detectives in Versailles on Nov. 29, 2018. After the ISP detectives finished examining the case, their findings were handed over to special prosecutor Jeff Chalfant of Jackson County.
On Feb. 21, Chalfant filed official misconduct, ghost employment and theft charges, as well as issued arrest warrants against both officers. After being booked at the Bartholomew County Jail, May and Meister were released after each posted $7,500 bond.
Meister is accused of overlapped hours worked on 52 separate occasions, while May is accused of overlapped hours on 62 separate occasions, court documents state.
May and Meister received $2,294.66 and $1,501.48, respectively, in compensation from the city while working at the hospital between Jan. 1, 2013 and Aug. 31, 2018, according to a State Board of Accounts audit.
When the investigation was turned over to ISP, May — a sergeant — announced his retirement before the department could seek disciplinary action against him, court documents stated.
Meister submitted a payment of $4,110.35 to repay the costs of the special investigation and compensation he received from the city while working for the hospital, according to a CPD spokesman. However, he was reduced in rank from lieutenant to patrol officer, Columbus police said.
Before the ISP investigation was completed, Meister announced his intention to retire in November 2019, Columbus police said. Although he has not worked for the department since November, he is still listed as an CPD employee due to accrued personal time benefits, Columbus police said.
Columbus Police Chief Michael Richardson was planning to go before the Columbus Board of Public Works and Safety this week to seek Meister’s suspension without pay when Meister announced his decision to retire effective Sunday, Columbus police said.
Meister had previously been working in a non-law enforcement role within the police department since the investigation began in late 2018.
