Shelbyville detective cites sexism as reason for demotion to patrol officer

A Shelbyville Police Department detective is fighting for her career.

On June 2, Kyra Peoples, a 10-year member of the Shelbyville police force and a detective since August of 2021, was called into a meeting with Police Chief Bill Dwenger and deputy chiefs Robert Brinkman and Ed Hadley and told to accept a demotion back to patrol officer.

Peoples was not informed she was being investigated for neglect of duty and disobedience of orders. One day later, she informed Dwenger she had no intention to voluntarily demote herself to patrol officer.

On June 10, Peoples was called into another meeting with her three superiors and informed of the decision made by the Board of Public Works and Safety to put her on administrative leave and her right to a hearing.

Nearly two months later, Peoples told her side of a story of a deteriorating work environment since the takeover of the new administration in January of 2024.

The newly established Police Merit Commission conducted Peoples’ hearing Wednesday at City Hall. The commission heard testimony from Brinkman, Hadley, Dwenger, Peoples and fellow Shelbyville detective Fred McConnaughey in attempt to determine if Peoples was at fault.

Retired trial judge Jack Tandy presided over the hearing.

The police department’s case centered around two missed phone calls in 2024 and three failures to come to a scene earlier this year when informed of an incident.

Peoples (seated, right) admitted to missing two off duty, but on call, phone calls in mid 2024 due to an issue with the ringer on her cell phone.

On May 6, 2024, Peoples was called in the middle of the night but did not hear her phone ring. When she returned the call a couple hours later (she stated), the scene had been cleared and no detective was called out.

The same thing happened again on June 4, 2024. She was called in the middle of the night and did not answer. She realized the missed call and checked in within an hour of the initial call to find out the scene was cleared and no other detective was called in.

Peoples explained she mistakenly turned her ringer down when she thought she was turning down the sound on other applications to sleep. She has since corrected that issue and has not missed a call since the June incident.

On April 4, 2025, Peoples was informed while off duty, but on call, of an attempted suicide but the male left the scene for the hospital breathing and with his heart pumping on its own. She stated it is not department policy for detectives to go to the scene when a death does not occur.

A patrol officer on the scene told Peoples the scene did not seem suspicious and didn’t see a reason for a detective to be summoned.

On May 4, 2025, Peoples again was on call, but off duty, when she received a call about a potential sexual battery. The police officer on scene interviewed witnesses but there was not a scene available to collect evidence.

Peoples stated she followed up with the officer and spoke with the victim, a minor, and her mother. No other detective was assigned to the case which is still active.

On May 14, 2025, Peoples was on duty at the Shelbyville police station when a call about an overdose was dispatched. The victim was resuscitated and taken to the hospital. Peoples and McConnaughey discussed the radio traffic but did not leave for the scene.

Peoples even discussed the overdose call with the narcotics division, who also opted not to go to the scene, and Dwenger before messaging Brinkman, who was not in the police department building at the time of the call out.

Peoples had two interviews scheduled in the early afternoon in Avon with a minor victim and a sibling. McConnaughey testified he was available to follow up on the case.

Brinkman, who conducted a full staff meeting only days earlier, testified in the morning Wednesday that the meeting was to stress detectives go to all overdose and suicide calls, which is different than established protocol.

Neither Peoples nor McConnaughey left the meeting feeling protocol was now changed regarding those instances without a death occurring.

City of Shelbyville attorney Jennifer Meltzer presented the police department’s side of the case and tried to establish a pattern of behavior that led to the demotion.

Dwenger (seated, center) stated he ultimately made the decision based on information provided by Brinkman and in consultation with Hadley before approaching the Board of Works to execute the decision.

“I think it’s important that this decision … I took awhile to make this decision,” said Dwenger when asked if he believes the demotion is the right outcome. “It is the right decision for all the stakeholders.”

Peoples, with no reprimands or suspensions on her record, never received word of an investigation. She believes that is in violation of the local Fraternal Order of Police’s contract with the city.

Peoples, represented by attorney Kim Jeselskis, contends she made judgment calls based on her four years of work as a detective not to attend the three scenes.

McConnaughey was willing and able to conduct an investigation on May 14 knowing she had scheduled interviews in Avon. Peoples contends Brinkman knew that but still erupted on her over the phone that morning for not going to the scene.

McConnaughey confirmed the scheduled interviews Peoples had regarding another case were important enough for her to keep as a priority.

Police Merit Commission member Bill Kent asked Peoples several point-blank questions about her perception of the work environment in the Shelbyville Police Department.

She filed a grievance in January of 2024 about the way seniority was regarded in the department. A new policy denied her status as senior detective. Her grievance was taken to the Board of Works but denied.

Peoples feel the workplace is different now with the new administration.

“My work environment changed when the administration changed. Previously I was respected for the work that I did, my knowledge,” testified Peoples. “I was asked to participate in decision making. I was given additional roles, given opportunities to continue my development.

“When this administration came in, it changed to any time I made a suggestion it was second guessed. It was taken to another detective and talked about. … I was no longer respected and what I worked to gain was no longer appreciated.”

Kent pressed why Peoples felt that way.

“Because I’m female,” she said.

Commission member Brad Ridgeway then confirmed with Peoples that four of the five instances listed by the police department came while she was off duty.

Peoples testified for nearly two hours Wednesday. She has waited nearly two months to get her hearing. The demotion would result in a nearly 10% drop in base salary.

Prior to the start of the hearing, attorney Warren Good, who is advising the Police Merit Commission, read a statement that the commission would only hear testimony today and will meet again Friday at 5 p.m. in executive session to determine its ruling.

The commission would then reveal its ruling at 6 p.m. Friday at City Hall in a public meeting.

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