VALPARAISO, Ind. — Porter Superior Court Judge Rebecca Buitendorp this week appointed two outside prosecutors to decide whether criminal charges are warranted in separate Porter County cases involving alleged misuse of Flock Safety license plate readers, after County Prosecutor Gary Germann asked the court to step in “to avoid the appearance of impropriety.”

Key facts

On Friday, Buitendorp named Fagan for former Chesterton detective Christopher Schoof. On Thursday she named Taulman for the sheriff’s matter in which Sheriff Jeff Balon disciplined a deputy for unauthorized Flock searches, Jim Woods of the Post-Tribune reported.

“There has been some concern expressed because our office works closely with all of our law enforcement officers, we may not be able to evaluate a case fairly and impartially if it involves a police officer in our county. Therefore, to avoid any appearance of bias I have asked an independent special prosecutor to be appointed,” Germann told the Post-Tribune.

Sheriff’s Office case

Balon announced Aug. 28 that an internal affairs investigation found a sheriff’s officer entered a citizen’s license plate into the Flock system for a reason that violated department policy. The citizen had complained after discovering the plate had been run. Balon’s statement said the officer received a demotion in rank, an unpaid suspension, an indefinite ban from using Flock, and remedial ethics training.

The Sheriff’s Office did not name the officer in its public release, citing the internal affairs process. The Times of Northwest Indiana later reported that the complainant identified the officer as Lt. Michael Piazza. Germann said in a Sept. 1 release that Balon’s investigation found the officer logged in as himself three times over several months and that, then, “no crime was committed.”

That no-charge stance drew public criticism. Germann later told the Post-Tribune he had made a mistake in how the matter was handled and that an outside prosecutor should decide whether the improper use rises to criminal conduct.

“While we can all agree that law enforcement’s actions in this case were improper, I now believe the issue of whether those improper actions rise to the level of criminal conduct be evaluated by another prosecutor,” Germann said Wednesday, according to the Post-Tribune.

Taulman’s appointment puts that criminal-law question with the Jasper County prosecutor’s office. Balon has also said searches now require a case number and stated reason, with Flock audits flagging odd queries.

Chesterton case

Schoof resigned Aug. 27 after an internal probe of his 2024–25 Flock use as a detective, the Post-Tribune reported. Chief Tim Richardson opened the inquiry Aug. 25 after an out-of-state newspaper contacted the department about website records highlighting Schoof’s access. Staff continued the administrative review after the resignation, then consulted Germann, who advised bringing in an outside agency. Indiana State Police agreed Wednesday to take the criminal investigation. Richardson has acknowledged that whether Schoof made an excessive number of inquiries on a limited set of plates will be part of the ISP inquiry.

Fagan will decide charges when ISP finishes. He lost the May Republican primary in his bid for a second term as LaPorte County prosecutor but remains in office as special prosecutor for this appointment.

Context

Germann contrasted Porter’s three-search case with Jackson County, where former deputy Skylar Thompson faces charges after an alleged 2,055 searches of one plate with a false justification — “little or no similarity,” Germann said. Jackson County Prosecutor Lynsey Fleetwood charged Thompson with official misconduct (Level 6 felony) and fraud (Class A misdemeanor), according to WTHI-TV.

No charges have been filed in either Porter County Flock matter. Region N3 will update when Taulman or Fagan announces a charging decision.

ALPR / traffic enforcement stock — illustrative
ALPR / traffic enforcement stock — illustrative — Photo: Region N3 stock / file
Courthouse stock — illustrative
Courthouse stock — illustrative — Photo: Region N3 stock / file

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