A Shenandoah Police Officer in the midst of a civil lawsuit, along with the Shenandoah Police Department and City of Shenandoah, resigned effective immediately, this past Wednesday. The Daily NonPareil says according to City Administrator Jim Davey, Officer Derek Baier, a member of the Shenandoah Police Department since December 2013, resigned because an investigation into a possible administrative policy violation was underway, and Baier chose to resign before that investigation was complete.
Baier will be eligible for unemployment, and it would be up to the city to approve or appeal that request. Davey said the process to find Baier’s replacement will begin soon.
The lawsuit involving Baier, the City of Shenandoah and its Police Department, is against Drew Bayless. In January 2014, the then 20-year-old Bayless was stopped by Baier for allegedly running a stop sign. Once Bayless stopped his vehicle, he alleges that he was thrown to the ground by Baier. Two weeks prior to the incident, Bayless had lumbar disc surgery. A second surgery was then needed to repair the damage done by Baier throwing him to the ground.
The date of Aug. 16, 2016, has been set for the start of the civil trial.