An Indiana state trooper was fired from his job on Thursday after he was accused for the second time of proselytising to a motorist whom he stopped for traffic violation.
The Indiana State Police said Senior Trooper Brian Hamilton, a 14-year veteran, was dismissed from service based on a second complaint that violated an agreement made last year.
Hamilton was first sued in 2014 when he stopped Ellen Bogan for traffic violation and then preached to her.
Last Jan. 14, another complaint was filed with the police by Wendy Pyle against Hamilton, which resulted in an internal investigation that found him liable.
According to the state police, Hamilton violated an August 2014 counselling statement where Hamilton was told that he "will not question others regarding their religious beliefs nor provide religious pamphlets or similar advertisements."
The first incident spawned a lawsuit that was settled.
In the second case, Pyle said she was asked by Hamilton if "she had been saved" after pulling her over in Fayette County and told her about his church and the directions to the place, according to the Indy Star.
Independent of the police's investigation, the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana filed a case on behalf of Pyle against Hamilton in court on Tuesday.
"Ms. Pyle was extremely uncomfortable with these questions. In order to hopefully end these inquiries Ms. Pyle indicated that she did attend a church and that she was saved," the lawsuit states.
The state police's investigation began on Jan. 15 and was concluded on March 9. Charges were drafted on March 22 and a hearing was conducted on April 7.
During the hearing, Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter met with Hamilton and terminated his employment.
"While I respect Mr. Hamilton's religious views I am also charged to respect every citizen's rights and the best way forward for the citizens of Indiana, and for Mr. Hamilton, was to end his employment as a state police officer," said Carter in a statement.
Civil rights attorney Richard Waples said, "When he's engaged in the official acts of his job, especially when he's a police officer, those kinds of stops are inherently coercive. That is not the time to be talking to people about their religion," Fox 59 reported.
Hamilton, 40, of Connersville, Indiana, started his employment wit the state police in December 2001. He was previously with the Pendleton State Police. He was assigned to a desk job from Jan. 15 until his termination.
