A Merrillville Police officer accused in October of domestic violence has been reinstated to the force after being on paid leave since the accusations.
Lake County Prosecutor Bernie Carter in a declination letter dated January 17 the Post-Tribune obtained said that “after a thorough review of the case materials,” criminal charges “will not be tied to this matter” in which Ryan Kenneth Kijurna was involved. Kijurna, 32, was arrested Oct. 17 and initially put on administrative leave without pay.
“Ryan and his family are relieved after a thorough review by the prosecutor’s office, they saw fit no crime was committed,” Kijurna’s father, Dan Kijurna, said in a statement Lake County Attorney Matt Fech released on his behalf.
Merrillville Police Chief Kosta Nuses declined comment after the Merrillville Town Council meeting Tuesday night, though he did confirm that Kijurna was put back on the job within the last week or two.
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.
After being placed on leave without pay, the Merrillville Police Commission on October 21 voted 5-0 to reinstate 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.
“We’re putting the cart before the horse,” Commission Chair William Poling said then. “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 at the time why Kijurna was put on leave without pay, to which Nuses said it was because Kijurna was arrested. Since the investigation was ongoing and charges hadn’t been presented, he said then that he saw no reason why Kijurna shouldn’t be paid while he was out.
Staff reporter Meredith Colias-Pete contributed.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
