Police officer cleared by merit board

Indianapolis police officer Jerry Piland will keep his job after a merit board found he did not use excessive force while arresting a teenage suspect in May. The board voted 6-1 in Piland’s favor Friday morning after hearing three days of testimony. Police Chief Paul Ciesielski had recommended termination. The incident, which resulted in severe injuries to then-15-year-old Brandon Johnson, sparked outrage in the community and an apology from Ciesielski, the city’s public safety director and the mayor.