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Police: Rushville officer accused of giving alcohol to minors

Posted at 11:20 PM, Dec 08, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-08 23:20:23-05

RUSHVILLE, Ind. -- A Rushville police officer who was accused by investigators of giving teenagers alcohol at a police department event resigned from the department on Wednesday.

Officer Donald Cochran was off-duty when investigators say he gave hard liquor to teenage boys on two separate occasions during the police department Christmas banquet.

Rushville Police arrested two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old on December 2 for consumption of alcohol by a minor.

Police say the teens had been drinking in the parking lot of the Rushville Knights of Columbus hall where the banquet was held.

Cochran was placed on administrative leave from the Rushville Police Department effective December 3, and he tendered his resignation effective December 7.

Investigators recommended criminal charges against Cochran including contributing to the delinquency of a minor.