Judge issues summary judgment in Greenwood federal lawsuit

GREENWOOD, Ind. — A judge in Indianapolis federal court has ruled in favor of the city of Greenwood in a federal lawsuit brought forward by a former officer with the Greenwood Police Department.

According to court documents filed earlier this month, Judge Richard Young entered final judgment in this case in favor of James Ison and the city of Greenwood, who had filed a motion for summary judgment.

Sam Bowen, a former officer with the department, brought forward a lawsuit against the city and the department regarding what he viewed as wrongful termination.

According to previous reports, Bowen was suspended without pay after he reportedly violated the department’s technology policy. Bowen was one of five officers who reportedly used the department’s technology to send anti-Semitic, racial and homophobic rhetoric and was eventually terminated by the Police Merit Commission.

A news release from the city of Greenwood stated that Bowen “falsely accused the chief and the department on his Facebook account of lying and hiding information.”

“Police departments depend on the respect and trust of the community to function effectively,” the court documents said. “By calling Ison a liar and accusing the GPD of hiding information from the public, Bowen compromised the community’s trust in its police officers, regardless of whether his posts identified him as a police officer.”