Diocese releases new information on Lindsay case & e-policy

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend released more information related to the firing of Matt Lindsay on Thursday along with the current policy on the use of school-issued computers, electronic communication and behavior on social-networking sites.

In a document containing questions and answers related to Lindsay's firing on September 16, the Diocese acknowledged it knew about a 2011 police report involving Lindsay and offered an explanation as to why the Allen County Sheriff's Department was contacted instead of the Fort Wayne Police Department.

The Diocese said the inappropriate images found on Lindsay's computer were first discovered by a school employee doing IT work. The images were shown to the principal and then an investigation found more inappropriate images, including some that appeared to have been taken at the school.  Lindsay was placed on administrative leave on Thursday, September 13.

Under the direction of Bishop Kevin Rhoades, a voice message was left with police at around 5 pm on Friday, September 14, less than two days after the inappropriate images and video files were reported to the principal. A follow-up call was made on Monday, September 17 and an investigator returned the call on September 18.

The Allen County Sheriff's Department and the Allen County Prosecutor are now in the midst of an investigation into whether Lindsay may have done anything illegal.  On Wednesday, September 26, a search warrant was served at the Lindsay residence and investigators hauled away several bags of evidence.

The new information also revealed the Diocese was aware of the police report filed in 2011 in which a parent claimed Lindsay was taking pictures of his daughter at the pool. In the new information, the Diocese stated:

The Superintendent of Schools and the principal of Luers received complaints about Mr. Lindsay taking photographs at a non-school pool in the latter part of the summer of 2011. The school officials talked to several persons involved, and confronted Mr. Lindsay with the complaints and he denied them. The pool incident was reported by parents to the police; to our knowledge, no charges against Mr. Lindsay were filed.

The Diocese also explained that the Allen County Sheriff's Department was contacted instead of the Fort Wayne Police Department because the Counsel for the Diocese had dealt with an investigator with that department before on unrelated matters.

As for whether parents were notified of Lindsay's termination before the media,  the Diocese indicated that it informed them in the same time frame it had informed the media.

The Diocese also noted that it did not know what kind of electronic devices were used to take the images and whether they belonged to Lindsay, the school or were purchased with athletic booster money.

The Diocese also released the e-policy that applies to all employees, volunteers and students.

See the complete Policy and Standards -- Use of computers, internet and electronic communication including faxing by all employees, volunteers and students  (Dated April 2011)