Police Merit Commission reinstates demoted Shelbyville officer to detective

The Police Merit Commission reinstated Kyra Peoples to the rank of detective in the Shelbyville Police Department.

After hearing nearly seven hours of testimony Wednesday, the five-member commission met in executive session at City Hall Friday afternoon at 5 p.m., then announced its decision at 6 p.m. in a public meeting.

Peoples sat quietly in the second row of the chamber meeting room and started nodding her head when the ruling of 4-1 to reinstate her was announced.

“I was cautiously optimistic,” said Peoples. “Through this whole thing when people asked what I needed, I said the truth. Because I know the truth and that’s all I needed. I am glad the commissioners saw it that way as well.”

Peoples was demoted to patrol officer on June 10 and placed on administrative leave pending a hearing. That hearing took place Wednesday at City Hall.

“It’s been a rough couple of months, but I am glad we have come to a conclusion. I am glad we are here,” said Peoples as she wiped away tears. “I was glad to be able to tell my side finally.”

The police department’s case of neglect of duty and disobedience of orders stemmed from three separate instances where Peoples did not go to the scene of a call out from patrol officers.

In the first two instances in April and May of this year, Peoples was off duty when called about an attempted suicide and a sexual battery. She explained she talked with the patrol officer on scene and her presence was not needed at the time.

In each case, no other detective was assigned to the case in her absence.

The third instance, on May 14, Peoples was on duty when a call came about a potential overdose. The victim was resuscitated and taken to the hospital. Per standard procedure, Peoples believed she was not needed at the scene because a death did not occur.

Deputy Chief Robert Brinkman testified that per a meeting earlier in May, he instructed detectives to go when called even if there is not a death.

Detective Fred McConnaughey, also on duty on May 14, could not confirm the policy change per the meeting. He offered to go to the scene if needed since it was already known Peoples had two interviews to conduct in Avon later that day.

Retired judge Jack Tandy oversaw the hearing Wednesday and stressed the burden of proof was on the city and the police department to prove negligence and disobedience.

Four of the five commission members agreed that the burden of proof was not met. Mark Mason, Denny Ramsey, Brad Ridgeway and Bill Kent all affirmed the reinstatement. Bob Williams was the lone dissenting vote.

Peoples, who has been on paid administrative leave since June 10, is anxious to get back to work.

“I am so grateful and so excited to go back to work,” said Peoples. “I know that sounds crazy. I had the whole summer off. It sounds like a dream, but it wasn’t. I am looking forward to going back to work.”

At one point during her testimony Wednesday, Peoples, a 10-year veteran of the Shelbyville police force, explained how she felt the new administration that took over in January of 2024 had altered the working environment and that sexism was a root cause of her demotion.

After Friday’s ruling, commission president Brad Ridgeway confirmed that the allegation of sexism will be investigated within the scope of the commission’s powers.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed.