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Board of Works puts Seipel on unpaid administrative leave

Tuesday, May 31, 2016 ~ Updated 5:42 PM

In special sesson Wednesday afternoon, the Greencastle Board of Public Works and Safety placed veteran Greencastle Police Det. Randy Seipel on unpaid administrative leave.

The change in status is immediate and will continue until the outcome of Seipel's criminal proceedings in Hendricks County.

The detective was also ordered to turn over all police department-owned items in his possession, including gun, badge and vehicle.

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Hendricks County authorities have confirmed that a 49-year-old veteran Greencastle police officer was arrested for drunk driving Thursday night in Hendricks County.

Det. Capt. Randy Seipel reportedly faces two Class A misdemeanor counts, charges of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated with endangerment and operating a motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent to .15 percent or greater.

He registered a .201 blood-alcohol content (.08 percent is considered intoxicated under Indiana law) on a certified breath test at the jail, arresting Officer Christopher Love of the Hendricks County Sheriff's Department reported.

He was also cited for speeding (a Class C infraction of exceeding 30 mph in an urban district), which led to Deputy Love stopping Seipel's own private vehicle, a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The car was clocked at 56 mph on U.S. 40 at Carr Road in Plainfield.

Stopped on U.S. 40 at Dan Jones Road at 8:45 p.m., Seipel told Deputy Love he was returning to Greencastle from Indianapolis.

After failing three field sobriety tests, Seipel was taken to the Hendricks County Jail at Danville at approximately 10 p.m. Thursday, Seipel later bonded out and has waived an initial hearing in Hendricks Superior Court 2.

Meanwhile, in response to the incident, a special Greencastle Board of Works session is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon with the only topic listed as "police personnel."

"We're collecting information based on the incident," Greencastle Mayor Bill Dory told the Banner Graphic Tuesday night following a special City Council meeting during which the issue was not discussed. "We're looking at what we're allowed to do under our personnel policy and state statutes."

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  • I have absolutely no sympathy for people drinking alcohol and then getting arrested!! No one is above the law, even policemen.

    -- Posted by Falcon9 on Tue, May 31, 2016, at 7:01 PM

  • Why did this happen almost a week ago and is just now being put up on the website?

    -- Posted by Mercidos on Tue, May 31, 2016, at 7:25 PM

  • It just showed up on the Indy Star's website late yesterday. Likely due to the holiday weekend? Just now getting released?

    -- Posted by letspulltogether on Wed, Jun 1, 2016, at 8:40 AM

  • Well, this is unfortunate-poor judgement.I have always felt that if you're in a public position whether it is police force, educator or any public position you need to hold yourself to a higher standard. Public officials are only human but social drinking doesn't have to turn into something like this.

    -- Posted by citizenoftheworld on Wed, Jun 1, 2016, at 9:09 AM

  • Hell you dont need a test...look at his eyes and nose. Another black eye for the officers of "GREENCASTLE". How will he ever get out of this one???

    -- Posted by canttakeitanymore on Wed, Jun 1, 2016, at 10:40 AM

  • Just the assumption of guilt for a police officer should be enough to suspend him without pay pending an investigation. Clearly the cop that busted him had a good reason to pull him over. Over twice the legal limit and speeding. Could have wiped out someones family.

    -- Posted by Vernie1 on Wed, Jun 1, 2016, at 12:57 PM

  • He was clocked at Carr Rd, then pulled over at Dan Jones Rd, so he was travelling east. Yet, he says he was returning to Greencastle from Indianapolis. Does anyone else see anything fishy here?

    -- Posted by ExplicitContent on Wed, Jun 1, 2016, at 4:02 PM

  • My guess is that he was drunk enough to not know where he was. Maybe the police report will be proved inaccurate in court and all charges but the speeding ticket will be dropped. Then he collects back pay for a nice get caught up at home vacation on our dime. That " thin blue line" could work out well for him.

    -- Posted by Vernie1 on Wed, Jun 1, 2016, at 6:53 PM

  • vernie1, "the thin blue line" could work out for him makes no sense, if the thin blue line you talk about worked well for him, he would not even been arrested. People make mistakes and he will have to pay for his mistake just like every other citizen. We have no idea what officers see on a daily basis, things you and me probably will not even want to see. Not making any excuses for his actions but remember the police need our support more than ever. One mistake should not erase all the years protecting our city that Det Seipel has done.

    -- Posted by JustALocalCitizen on Wed, Jun 1, 2016, at 9:52 PM

  • But this gentleman was almost 3 times the legal limit and he carries a gun.

    -- Posted by sierrabloom on Thu, Jun 2, 2016, at 1:58 PM

  • It's nothing new around Putnam County. Corruption runs deep and exist on every level. They all cover each other's backs and it's all over looked. Arresting and judging people for the same crimes they are committing.

    -- Posted by S B on Sat, Jun 4, 2016, at 11:38 AM
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