INGALLS — Ingalls Fire Chief Brian Cushman has been fired and volunteer firefighter Logan Caulk has been suspended indefinitely, while the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office looks into an incident that took place at Cushman’s home involving alcohol and two teenage girls.
James Doty, an Ingalls police officer, has resigned in connection with the incident. According to reports, Doty did not file a report about what took place Saturday, June 9, after he responded to the residence.
Ingalls town leaders suspended Cushman and Caulk indefinitely on June 15 (replacing five-day suspensions made June 11) during a special town council session, pending an investigation by the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office and Indiana State Police.
The town council then agreed to terminate Cushman and accept Doty’s resignation on Monday, June 18, during another special town council meeting.
Cushman was fired based on comments made during an internal investigation by town officials.
“His firing is not based on any type of criminal charges,” Chris Bradshaw, town council vice president, said. “This was based solely on his actions as the fire chief.”
According to a report Ingalls Police Chief Chris Thompson presented to the town council, two girls, ages 14 and 17, reportedly consumed alcohol at Cushman’s house on June 9.
The report indicates a relative of one of the teens found the 17-year-old girl in the driveway at the fire chief’s house with the smell of alcohol on her breath; he found the 14-year-old passed out inside the home.
According to the police report, Cushman told the relative he had been at the fire station and came home to find the two girls in his house with the younger girl passed out. The relative noticed the younger girl had an oxygen mask around her face and saw five used oxygen tanks on the floor nearby.
The report states Cushman said he used the tanks on the younger girl; when asked why he had not called an ambulance, the report states Cushman said he wanted to try to fix the situation before it got to that point.
The report went on to state Caulk arrived with another tank of oxygen and an inhaler, and the younger girl was revived.
Doty arrived at the scene and later went to the home of the relative, the report said. That’s where Doty informed the family of one of the minors he felt he couldn’t do anything because he had not seen what happened, the report said.
Last week, Thompson went to the prosecutor’s office seeking clarification of possible charges against Cushman and Caulk during an internal investigation, after Cushman, Caulk and Doty initially had been suspended June 11 for five days without pay.
Prosecutors informed Thompson it would be best for county and state officials to take a look at the incident before determining what, if any, charges should be filed.
Town officials agreed and conducted a special meeting Friday, June 15, during which they rescinded their original five-day suspensions against Cushman, Caulk and Doty and immediately suspended Cushman and Caulk indefinitely.
Town officials then asked the police chief to make a recommendation on Doty’s status. When Doty learned of what was happening, a pending dismissal, he resigned.
The town council conducted another special session on Monday, June 18, and unanimously agreed to fire Cushman and accept Doty’s resignation.
Doty, who is not under investigation by Madison County or state officials, was going to be terminated because it was determined he did not respond properly to the situation, town council President Tim Green said.
Green said he believes the initial testimony by Cushman in the police chief’s report was cut and dried and Cushman deserved to be fired immediately.
Regardless of the outcome of state findings, Green said Cushman took oxygen out of the fire station without approval while trying to revive someone whom he knew needed emergency care.
Jeremy Boat, assistant fire chief, was named interim fire chief.