'Attacking the judiciary': Head of Indianapolis police fraternity draws ire from lawyers

"Irresponsible," "inaccurate," "dangerous."

The Indianapolis Bar Association did not hold back Friday in a statement condemning Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police president Rick Snyder for his recent comments on the Marion County judiciary.

Snyder has claimed the man who fatally shot Elwood police officer Noah Shahnavaz on July 31 had previously been given light treatment by a Marion County judge.

"That's why when we have this officer out of Elwood who was shot and killed, that's by an offender who previously shot at police in Indianapolis, got a lenient modified sentence that let him out of jail early, back on the streets, and now this young officer has lost his life," Snyder said in a Friday episode of the podcast "Real Talk with Rev. Charles Harrison."

More:In ‘small-town’ Elwood, Officer Noah Shahnavaz’s killing sends community reeling

Shahnavaz was found by law enforcement in his patrol car with the emergency lights still on. His gun was still holstered. Dozens of rifle casings were scattered on the ground near his vehicle. His death was declared a homicide.

Carl Roy Webb Boards II has been charged with murder in connection with Shahnavaz's killing.

Boards was given a 25-year sentence in 2007 after a jury convicted him of criminal recklessness for another incident in which he shot at police officers. He also was found guilty by the jury of two counts of resisting law enforcement, a controlled substance charge and a carrying a handgun without a license charge.

The jury acquitted him of attempted murder. No officers were harmed in the 2006 shooting.

More:Officer Shahnavaz died in hail of bullets, never unholstered firearm, court docs state

Earlier this month the FOP issued a news release saying that the fraternity's members would be hosting a "vote of confidence" on the Marion County court system in response to the alleged shooter's "lenient modified sentence." The vote will also apply to Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears for "other incidents of failures to act."

The news release pointed to the prosecutor's office's decision not to file a red flag petition against the man who carried out the FedEx shooting in 2021. It also described the February 2022 shooting of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer Thomas Mangan by a man who was already facing charges of theft and resisting law enforcement.

On "Real Talk with Rev. Charles Harrison" Snyder claimed Mears and the court system "aren't holding violent offenders accountable."

More:Judge explains why Officer Shahnavaz's alleged killer had been let out of prison early

The Indianapolis' attorneys association said in its Friday statement that Shahnavaz's death was "incredibly tragic" and merits further analysis to help protect law enforcement. "However," the statement continued, "Mr. Snyder’s inaccurate hyperbole in this matter attacking the judiciary in this false and unfounded manner is simply counterproductive to that goal."

The statement went on to say that Boards received a previous sentence that was "neither lenient nor modified."

More:In ‘small-town’ Elwood, Officer Noah Shahnavaz’s killing sends community reeling

"The sentence imposed was near the maximum permitted by Indiana law, and the defendant did not receive a modified sentence," the statement from the Bar said. "In fact, the court specifically informed the defendant that it would notgrant his repeated request for a sentencing modification."

"The clear inference Mr. Snyder wishes the public to make from these statements is that — but for a 'Marion County Judge' — Officer Shahnavaz would be alive. Unfortunately, those statements are factually incorrect, and the resulting inferences are dangerous."

IndyStar requested comment from Snyder on Friday. IndyStar also asked Snyder in an August 5 email what impact a "vote of confidence" in the county's courts and prosecutor would have, but no response was received.

The state criminal code at the time of Boards' conviction allowed defendants to receive a day of credit for every day of good behavior while incarcerated — meaning Boards was eligible for release as early as 2019.

That year, the Indiana Department of Corrections and Marion County Community Corrections, which oversees home detention in the county, screened and approved Boards for placement in a re-entry program, according to the Bar. That is "consistent with the policies of the Indiana Department of Corrections for offenders nearing the completion of sentences of incarceration," the Bar's statement said.

No Indianapolis Bar Association members that are judges were involved in the preparation of its Friday statement, the Bar said. Neither was Marion Superior Judge Mark Stoner, who oversaw Boards' 2006 case and is the Marion County judge referred to by Snyder.

Stoner previously told IndyStar the state criminal code policies on credit for good behavior are intended to encourage compliance by prisoners while they're incarcerated.

More:Visitation, procession and funeral plans for fallen Elwood officer Noah Shahnavaz released

"Once I sentence somebody," Stoner said, "the DOC determines how long they stay there."

Boards' next court hearing for his alleged role in the killing of Shahnavaz is scheduled for September.

Call IndyStar courts reporter Johnny Magdaleno at 317-273-3188 or email him at jmagdaleno@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @IndyStarJohnny

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis Bar Association condemns Fraternal Order of Police