A Merrillville cop accused of domestic violence will get paid while he’s on administrative leave after all.
The Merrillville Police Commission on Monday voted 5-0 to reinstate Ofc. Ryan Kenneth Kijurna’s salary while he and the department wait for the Lake County Sheriff’s Police Department to finish its investigation and the Lake County Prosecutor’s office to accept charges if warranted. The department put Kijurna on administrative leave without pay after he was arrested October 17.
“We’re putting the cart before the horse,” Commission Chair William Poling said. “We had another officer who was placed on administrative leave without pay. It took about a year before the matter was resolved, and he ended up financially ruined. We don’t want a repeat of that.”
Commissioner Luther Cuttino asked for the reasoning Kijurna was put on leave without pay, to which Police Chief Kosta Nuses said it was because Kijurna was arrested. Since the investigation is ongoing and charges have yet to be presented, he said he sees no reason why Kijurna shouldn’t be paid while he’s out.
Commissioner Michael Rich then asked how long Kijurna will be on administrative leave. Commissioner Thomas Pawlak said he’ll be out until the investigation is complete and if the Prosecutor accepts any charges.
Lake County officers responded around 10 p.m. October 16 to the 5600 block of W. 171st Avenue in Lowell to investigate screaming coming from a residence, the Post-Tribune previously reported. They arrived in the area and made contact with Kijurna and his fiancee, Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr, said at the time.
Nuses said in an October 17 release that the department is cooperating fully with the Sheriff’s Department as well as conducting an internal investigation into the arrest of Kijurna, 32. The department “believes in transparency and accountability,” Nuses said.
“We take these allegations very seriously and are committed to upholding the highest standards of conduct within our department,” Nuses said.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
