Police Department Hardship Leave Bank Board 10.15.26

The City of Lawrence, Indiana Police Department Hardship Leave Bank Board met on October 15, 2026. The board approved the minutes from its September 11 meetings. It then considered Officer Corey Whaley’s hardship leave after a report found that he had pursued outside employment without the board’s written permission, contrary to the hardship leave procedure. Whaley said he had applied before beginning hardship leave, attended a short-notice interview during the leave period, and had postponed other work until after his leave; he also questioned whether the policy required permission for that interview and argued the policy was unclear.

The board voted down an initial motion concerning forfeiture of hours, then approved a motion forfeiting all remaining awarded hardship-leave hours from October 15 onward, up to the 480-hour limit. No other disciplinary action, monetary reimbursement, contract, or procurement decision was recorded. The board also noted that hardship-leave hours are donated by police department members; no procurement activity was identified.