Wife faces charge

By jeanne starmack

starmack@vindy.com

girard

The wife of a Girard police officer who was the subject of an internal investigation over an underage-drinking party has been charged in connection with that party.

Kandy Neely was arraigned in Girard Municipal Court on Wednesday. Her pretrial is set for April 9.

Also arraigned Wednesday was Officer Larry Neely’s stepson, Michael Dulaney, who was one of 19 people at the Feb. 8 party in Neely’s garage.

Five of those people, who are adults, were charged, including Dulaney, 18. The adults, not including Dulaney, were charged with disorderly conduct.

Dulaney and Kandy Neely are each charged with “offense involving underage persons.” That means they are accused of hosting the party, said Girard Police Chief Jeff Palmer. The charge is a misdemeanor.

Four juveniles also were charged with underage drinking.

Kandy Neely and Dulaney each pleaded not guilty.

Dulaney’s pretrial has not been set, the court said.

Larry Neely became the subject of the internal investigation after police broke up the party in a garage behind his house.

He was put on paid administrative leave, had a pre-disciplinary hearing, and remained on leave until city leaders settled on disciplinary action.

Girard Mayor Jim Melfi said last week that he, safety services director Jerry Lambert and the city’s legal counsel worked out a “last- chance agreement,” meaning the city has the right to terminate Larry Neely for any violations of police department rules and policies. The city would not have to go through the steps required in the union contract before firing him.

He also was put on a 20-day unpaid suspension after agreeing to the city’s disciplinary action.

Larry Neely has had disciplinary action in the past, including an unpaid 10-day suspension for not answering two dispatcher calls in one night.