Indianapolis News and HeadlinesWRTV Investigates

Actions

CALL 6: State policy does not require employees to report outstanding warrants

Posted at 7:10 PM, Feb 21, 2018
and last updated 2018-02-21 22:33:40-05

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana’s state personnel policy does not require workers to notify their supervisors about outstanding arrest warrants.

Call 6 investigates did some checking and state policy says employees must report any arrests or convictions within five calendar days, however, the policy does not contain any language about outstanding warrants.

Employees who fail to report arrests or convictions can be subject to discipline, including dismissal from state government.

The issue came to light this week after an Indiana Department of Child Services supervisor was arrested Tuesday on an outstanding arrest warrant dating back to August 2017.

Rodnie Bryant is a program coordinator with DCS and has worked with the agency since February 2008, records show.

An arrest warrant was issued on August 17, 2017, according to court records, after Bryant failed to appear for a Marion County criminal court hearing connected to a 2010 charge for driving while suspended with a prior violation.

READ | Policy for state employees regarding arrests and convictions

Call 6 Investigates started asking questions about Bryant’s warrant on Tuesday, and later that same day, Bryant was arrested.

Jail records show he was released Wednesday at 9:06 a.m.

Bryant’s job does not involve driving a state vehicle or working directly with children, according to according to Ashley Hungate, communications director for the Indiana State Personnel Department. 

He is currently suspended pending the outcome of the state’s investigation, Hungate said.

Hungate said Bryant is a Staff Development Resource Parent Training Coordinator Supervisor, and provides oversight and guidance for coordinating training for in-service, on-line and classroom trainings for DCS Resource Parents across the state.  

The Indiana Department of Child Services was unaware of the outstanding warrant, however, they were aware of the arrest, Hungate said.

Hungate said they have no plans to update their arrest and conviction policy to include language about outstanding warrants.

Call 6 Investigates was unable to reach Bryant or his attorney Wednesday for comment.

Records show the Marion County court dismissed the case against Bryant Wednesday and canceled a pretrial conference that had been scheduled for March 20.

Court records show a judge ordered Bryant’s driver’s license to be suspended in 2008 following a driving while suspended charge.

His license was reinstated in 2011, according to court records.

Judge Marcel Pratt told Call 6 Investigates the case was dismissed because Bryant was able to obtain a valid driver’s license.