Plainfield officer on leave for 'white male privilege' remark

A Plainfield police officer has been placed on administrative leave after she told a colleague during transgender sensitivity training that his law enforcement experience was shaped by "white male privilege."

And the colleague was suspended for two days after he shouted how he found the comment "extremely offensive" and marched out of the session amid a roomful of federal officials, prosecutors and town and school representatives.

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Capt. Carri Weber's comment came during a Nov. 1 Department of Justice training session on transgender people and their interactions with law enforcement, according to complaints filed in her personnel file and a video posted on YouTube.

The colleague, Capt. Scott Arndt, sought clarity on some statistics cited by trainers because they didn't reflect what he has experienced during his career in law enforcement.

Weber responded that he would not understand because of his "white male privilege."

Arndt, clearly offended, demanded that police Chief Darel Krieger do something.

"I'm asking a legitimate question here," Arndt said, his voice rising, "and I'm getting (inaudible) white privilege? Are you serious? I find that extremely offensive."

Arndt left the training after the outburst but said he would file a complaint and leave it on the chief's desk.

In the complaint he said he was "racially and sexistly slurred" by Weber.

Arndt was suspended without pay for two days for conduct unbecoming an officer, Plainfield officials said in an email to IndyStar on Wednesday.

Weber was placed on paid administrative leave while the incident is being investigated.

This is Weber's second alleged disciplinary infraction within six months, officials said in the email.

Weber on Aug. 17 was suspended for two weeks without pay for violating department policy after evidence showed that she drove her department-issued squad car within eight hours of drinking alcohol, according to records in Weber's personnel file.

A month later she also received "verbal counseling" after she made inappropriate comments regarding colleagues at the department's firing range.

Weber could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday by IndyStar.

Call IndyStar reporter Vic Ryckaert at (317) 444-2701. Follow him on Twitter: @VicRyc.