This brief is adapted from notes taken by Documenter Andrew Zehner, who covered the Citizens’ Police Complaint Board meeting in April. 📝 Read more about what happened.
The Citizens’ Police Complaint Board reviewed Ambar and Trey Taylor’s complaint against Sgt. John Walters of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, who stopped their son for failing to signal before a lane change in February.
In a video taken by 17-year-old Trevion Taylor, Walters can be heard saying, “Move, and I will f***ing kill you.”
Taylor’s parents filed a complaint against Walters for conduct unbecoming of an officer for improper language and an unlawful threat toward their son.
IMPD’s Internal Affairs Division sustained the charges for conduct unbecoming of an officer for improper language. The board agreed.
“Everybody agrees that the harsh language that was used is disgusting and wrong,” Board Member Gabriel Vaughn said. “For that, he should be disciplined as harshly as possible. Especially with a child. I understand there’s more to the case, but this part shouldn’t be complicated. It’s just as clear as it could be, and he needs to be disciplined for it.”
As for the unlawful threat, the board decided to send the question back to the Citizens’ Police Complaint Office until full evidence is available.
What’s next?
The next Citizens’ Police Complaint Board meeting is 6 p.m. May 11. The location of this meeting will be announced closer to the meeting date.
A correction was made on May 6, 2026: This story has been updated to reflect that an illegal traffic stop complaint was not made against Sgt. Walters.
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