BRISTOL — Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller filed a lawsuit Tuesday to freeze the assets of a former Indiana State Police post commander under investigation for the alleged embezzlement of at least $89,000 in state funds.
Named as a defendant in the civil lawsuit filed in Elkhart Circuit Court is Dallard Tackett, Nappanee, who recently resigned State Police post commander of the Toll Road post near Bristol.
A special hearing was set for this morning in Circuit Court before Judge Terry Shewmaker.
"Every day we see state police troopers committed to protecting Hoosier motorists on our highways and focused on investigating serious crimes," Zoeller stated in a press release. "So when one officer in a position of authority is reported to have raided public funds for his own benefit, it is an insult to all troopers and all police officers who wear the badge with integrity."
In August, State Police opened an investigation when the agency reportedly discovered that some checks provided to the Bristol post by several county prosecutors had been misappropriated.
Normal procedure is for checks received from various prosecutors’ offender-diversion programs to be forwarded to the state police fiscal division in Indianapolis to fund equipment purchases and officer training.
However, investigators reportedly found that Lt. Tackett instead deposited the county checks payable to the ISP post into his own bank account and used the money for personal benefit. Tackett resigned from State Police when the investigation began, and a county prosecutor will be asked to determine if criminal charges will be filed after a criminal investigation is complete.
Examiners from the State Board of Accounts performed a preliminary audit and found the amount Tackett diverted was at least $89,000, according to the Attorney General’s office. The preliminary audit triggers a legal process under state law where the Attorney General can freeze the financial assets of current or former public employees to prevent embezzled funds from being concealed in or transferred into private accounts.
That civil action means funds could still be available later to reimburse the public treasury if the court enters a judgment against the defendant for the amount taken.
Restraining order
Attorney General Zoeller filed a motion for a temporary restraining order, asking the Elkhart Circuit Court to freeze Tackett’s two accounts at First Source Bank and his State Police retirement fund account, to prevent those assets from being transferred or spent. Zoeller is also seeking to place a lien on Tackett’s Nappannee residence to prevent it from being sold or conveyed.
If the judge grants a restraining order, it would remain in effect until a hearing on Zoeller’s motion asking the court to attach Tackett’s property and garnish any income he receives.
Damages sought by the State of Indiana to reimburse the state police and recover public funds are $89,000, plus costs and attorneys’ fees.
Attempts by The Goshen News to reach Tacket Tuesday were unsuccessful.
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