HOBART | Disciplined Hobart police Officer Kirk Homoky has had his badge and service revolver returned to him, interim Police Chief Vance Thompson said Friday.
"Starting on Monday, he'll be reporting to duty in his uniform, but he'll be at the station," Thompson said.
Homoky will remain on duty at the station pending completion of an ongoing investigation involving him, Thompson said.
The investigation, the nature of which city officials have declined to discuss, has not been completed, attorney Dan Whitten said.
Whitten was hired as legal counsel for former Police Chief Jeff White who on Nov. 19 suspended Homoky and attempted to fire him from the department, citing insubordination.
White agreed to drop the insubordination charge and concentrate on the internal investigation against Homoky at the Dec. 5 Board of Public Works meeting.
Christopher Cooper, the attorney for Homoky, said his client was elated to get the news on Friday that his police powers have been restored.
"He's feeling great. This has taken an emotional and financial toll on his family," Cooper said.
Cooper said he thinks pushing city officials to restore full police powers to Homoky worked.
"It appears that the city took our position seriously that we would file for injunctive relief or take other legal action if he was not restored to full duty by 5 p.m. Friday," Cooper said.
City Attorney Anthony DeBonis declined to comment.
Cooper said city officials on Friday also filed a response to a federal lawsuit he filed against them in November.
"The lawsuit will now move forward," Cooper said.
Cooper filed suit on Nov. 26 in U.S. District Court in Hammond saying his client's due process rights were violated.
Named in the lawsuit are White, who stepped down as department head on Jan. 15, and detectives Jeremy Ogden and Garrett Ciszewski.
Whitten declined to comment on the lawsuit.
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