The Associated Press
GARY, Ind. (AP) -- The city’s police chief wants officials to fire an officer identified as a suspect in the death of the chief’s secretary.
The Gary Police Civil Service Commission was expected to assign an officer Thursday to review Chief Garnett Watson’s complaint against Cpl. Fred McKinney.
No criminal charges have been filed against the 50-year-old McKinney in the July 9 death of Michelle Walker Avery, who was found dead at home a few hours after police said he delivered the unconscious woman to her teenage son.
The Associated Press left a phone message seeking comment Thursday at the office of McKinney’s attorney, Nick Thiros of Merrillville.
Lake County Coroner David Pastrick ruled the 32-year-old Avery died of brain damage she suffered during an assault.
“Cpl. McKinney may have committed a homicide,” Watson wrote in the list of violations submitted the commission last week.
McKinney has not returned to work since Avery’s death. He was recently hospitalized after suffering an apparent stroke.
In his complaint, Watson alleges that McKinney admitted he had sex with Avery in his Internal Affairs Division office on the night of July 8. Avery, who had been Watson’s secretary since March, was not authorized to be in McKinney’s office, according to the complaint.