INDIANAPOLIS -- On Friday, members of the Indianapolis City-County Council's rules and public policy committee are expected to hear two proposals and introduce a related amendment in the wake of the recent sexual harassment scandal involving the city of Indianapolis.
According to previous reports, Thomas Cook, a former aide to Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, was accused of sexual harassment by a Caroline Ellert, a former city employee, and Lauren Roberts, a prior member of Hogsett's campaign, earlier this year.
Many have called into question Hogsett's handling of the investigation into Cook. According to previous reports, Cook had three separate sanctions between October 2017 and October 2023. Earlier this month, Hogsett signed an order, requiring all city-county employees to participate in an annual harassment training program.
According to a news release, the committee will first hear Proposal No. 287, 2024, which would authorize the committee to review the city's current processes and procedures associated with sexual harassment of city-county employees and the training to prevent such. The committee will then hear Proposal No. 288, 2024, which would form a committee to investigate allegations against the mayor's office surrounding Cook's conduct.
Councilors will also introduce an amendment calling for the hiring of an independent law firm, or human resources firm, to investigations the allegations against the mayor's office.
“Our priority is to restore trust in city leadership and to ensure that Indianapolis is a place where every employee feels secure, valued, and supported,” Democratic Majority Leader Maggie Lewis said in the release. “We are committed to making the necessary changes to protect our employees now and in the future. This is a critical step in holding leadership accountable and creating a safer work environment for all.”
Provisions of the amendment include:
- Creation of an investigative committee tasked with overseeing the investigation, including five members of the majority party and two from the minority party
- Engagement of independent firms to investigate the allegations and recommend policy changes to address gaps in the city's human resources policies
- Authority to subpoena witnesses and documents as necessary
- Implementing strict privacy protocols, making sure no identifying information of victims is disclosed to the public
- Modifying a portion of the city's code to include all city-county employees in an annual mandatory sexual harassment training
"The amendment is a continuation of the Council’s unwavering commitment to protecting employees and emphasizes that a consensual sexual or romantic relationship can never exist between a supervisor and a subordinate due to the inherent power imbalance," the release said. "The Council aims to implement improvements that will increase accountability for all leaders, whether elected, appointed or hired."
The release said that the investigative committee will convene within 21 days of the proposal's passage and the committee is expected to meet regularly to "ensure a thorough and timely investigation." An interim report is expected by Feb. 28, 2025.