Goshen Police Officer arrested for OWI, 2 other cops suspended in potential drunken shooting

 

ELKHART COUNTY, Ind.—A Goshen Police Officer has been arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

At approximately 1:43 a.m. on Friday, a Goshen Police Officer conducted a traffic stop in the 23000 block of US-33 (Elkhart Road) on a vehicle near an area where the officer heard what sounded like gun shots.

The driver of the vehicle, Brody L. Brown, 24, of Elkhart was arrested and incarcerated on preliminary charges of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated, a class A misdemeanor.

In addition to Brown, two other off-duty police officers were passengers in the vehicle; a Goshen Police Officer, with a hire date of June 13, 2016 and Elkhart City Police Corporal Leonard Dolshenko.

The Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department was contacted to conduct an investigation.

Both Brown and the Goshen Police Department passenger, and Dolshenko will be placed on administrative leave pending the completion and findings of the investigation.

Mayor Jeremy Stutsman, Mayor of Goshen, released the following statement:

To the Community of Goshen:

There was an unfortunate incident which occurred last night involving off-duty officers from the Goshen Police Department and Elkhart Police Department. I was immediately contacted by Chief Jose’ Miller and briefed on the circumstances surrounding the arrest of one of the Goshen Police Department off-duty officers for operating while intoxicated. Based on the information I received from the Goshen Police Department’s Executive Staff, I agreed there were special circumstances associated with this case that necessitated an investigation by another agency.

Assistant Chief Shawn Turner reached out to the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department and asked for them to investigate the incident. We did this in the interest of justice and transparency.

The arresting Officer, Jonathan McKalips, was placed in a tough situation. He showed great integrity in doing his job and making the arrest. My Administration and the Goshen Police Department will be following the progress of this investigation closely. The Goshen off-duty officers, both the officer arrested and the passenger of the vehicle, have been placed on administrative leave until we have further information to review.

Since the investigation has been outsourced to another agency, we will be unable to provide further information until a thorough investigation has been completed. We know there will be questions surrounding this incident, but to protect the integrity of the investigation, these questions should be directed to the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department.

I want the Community of Goshen to know that both Chief Miller and I take this situation very seriously. Goshen expects the highest level of integrity from our officers. While I am very disappointed with the choices made by the two Goshen off-duty officers, I am proud of the Goshen Police Department for initiating the actions being taken to deal with this situation.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Stutsman