The Elkhart Police Department has issued a statement in the wake of the resignation of Chief Ed Windbigler:
In regards to the resignation of Chief Windbigler, Chief (Todd) Thayer will continue to be the interim Chief for the Department. Until a replacement is named as chief, the Elkhart Police Department is committed to providing professional police services to our citizens and our community. We will learn from the past while continuing to focus on the future.
Windbigler, who downplayed the beating of a handcuffed suspect by two officers and faced other controversies over discipline, resigned at the request of Elkhart Mayor Tim Neese.
The South Bend Tribune published a story Sunday about an officer with a drunken-driving conviction who was promoted and never disciplined. The newspaper and ProPublica have been cooperating on a series of stories about the Elkhart County justice system that raised questions about the department.
Last month, Neese placed Windbigler on 30-day suspension after the release of a video showing the beating.
