As one Lake County police officer was found guilty Thursday of his disciplinary charges, another was suspended without pay as his disciplinary proceedings begin.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Police Merit Board found Guy Mikulich, 38, guilty of all eight disciplinary charges he faced in connection with an alleged hit-and-run at last year’s Gary Air Show.
Mikulich, a 16-year veteran of the department, had his two-day disciplinary hearing before the merit board in June, in which multiple witnesses were called, including the victim’s wife, Maureen Dircks, who described running to her husband’s side. Board members also watched surveillance video of the alleged crash.
Sheriff John Buncich and Mikulich each briefly testified, although Mikulich invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
The disciplinary charges included violating state law; intoxication on or off duty; committing conduct unbecoming of an officer of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department; unauthorized use of property of the department; vehicle operation without due regard for safety; use of alcohol to be intoxicated on duty; operation of county-owned vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating beverages; and committing acts which bring or tend to bring the individual or the Lake County Sheriff’s Department into disrepute.
The merit board scheduled a hearing Aug. 17 for counsel to call witnesses and present exhibits as the board decides Mikulich’s punishment.
After making a decision in Mikulich’s case, the merit board turned to Nicholas Medrano, 34, of Crown Point, who was indicted by a Lake County grand jury in June on two counts of rape, attempted rape, criminal confinement and sexual battery.
Medrano, who has been with the department for more than 10 years, said Thursday that he had not hired an attorney for his disciplinary charges and asked the board to continue his preliminary hearing until he had one. The board set a hearing for Aug. 17, before the one scheduled for Mikulich.
At Buncich’s request, the board also suspended Medrano without pay as his criminal charges are pending.
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