Shelbyville school board, city administration issue statements regarding arrest of David Finkel

Before the start of Tuesday’s regularly scheduled Shelbyville Central Schools board meeting, board president Michael Turner read a prepared statement concerning the recent arrest of former board member David Finkel.

It reads:

“The Shelbyville Central School Board is issuing this statement in light of the recent arrest of former Board Member David Finkel by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on charges involving crimes against children.

Mr. Finkel had been a board member for multiple terms serving during multiple administrations. Within 24 hours of learning of the FBI raid on Mr. Finkel’s residence, the Board acted swiftly and requested his resignation. In accordance with Indiana State law, the Board does not possess the legal authority to remove an elected board member and could only urge Mr. Finkel to resign.

That request was made without hesitation, as the gravity of the situation demanded immediate and decisive action. We understand that many felt this should have been made publicly, but the board felt it was best to handle this situation the way we did. While social media has its place in our lives, we did not feel that it was the correct place to discuss what was taking place.

Now that the charges have been publicly filed and portions of the evidence have come to light, the Board is deeply horrified and heartbroken by the nature of the allegations. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of these unspeakable acts. While reports indicate that the victims were located in other states, this fact does not lessen the severity of the crimes or the pain inflicted.

A child is a child – no matter where they are from – and no child should ever be subjected to harm, especially from someone once trusted by a community.

As a governing body responsible for the welfare of our students, teachers, and staff, we are committed to ensuring that all who serve in any capacity within Shelbyville Central Schools are held to the highest standard of conduct and trust.

This is a difficult time for our community. We recognize the anger, sadness, and betrayal many may feel. The Board is committed to moving forward with transparency, purpose, and compassion as we begin the process of healing. Our focus remains on serving the children, families, and educators of Shelbyville with the dignity and respect they deserve.”

Finkel had been involved in several facets of City of Shelbyville government. He most recently served on the Board of Works and Public Safety prior to Mayor Scott Furgeson’s election.

Although no longer holding a city position, the City of Shelbyville posted a statement today on its Facebook page:

“The FBI with the assistance of the City of Shelbyville Police Department took David Finkel into custody Monday June 16, 2025 on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography.

The City understands and shares the concerns of the citizens regarding these allegations against a prominent public figure. This is a federal investigation, if you have any information, please contact the FBI online at https://tips.fbi.gov/home.”

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