“A Senseless Murder and the Indianapolis Police Department” by Tommy Sickels is now available for purchase

Citi of Books is proud to announce the publication of the book “A Senseless Murder and the Indianapolis Police Department” by Tommy Sickels. The narrative offers insightful explanations of the Indianapolis Police Department’s structure, history, and the specific details of how it functions and operates, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of its inner workings. This book is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other retail sites.

Tommy Sickels is a retired Indianapolis police officer and professor of criminal justice. Sickels completed a Master of Public Administration from Indiana University and an Educational Doctorate from the University of Phoenix. From the late 1980s until 1999, Sickels taught as an adjunct faculty member of criminal justice first at Indiana University, Indianapolis and then at Ivy Tech State College. He later taught criminal justice at University of Phoenix until December 2018. 

A new author, Tommy Sickels writes books based on his personal experiences as a police officer. Sickels began his law enforcement career on February 8, 1975, and retired in December 2007 after thirty-two years of service. 

In “A Senseless Murder and the Indianapolis Police Department,” Officer Matt Faber was tragically shot in the back and killed by Fred Sanders, leading to one of the most controversial and devastating criminal cases in Indianapolis’ history. Despite pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter, Sanders received a minimal sentence of just three years in jail, never serving time in a traditional prison. Additionally, a jury awarded him 1.5 million dollars in compensatory damages, though a federal judge later vacated the verdict.

Throughout his book, Tommy Sickels, Officer Faber’s supervisor, recounts the events surrounding Faber’s murder, details of the investigation, and the ensuing fallout within the Indianapolis Police Department. Faber, a 24-year-old officer with less than two years of service, was tragically shot while responding to a disturbance call. He was left bleeding on the front porch as Sanders was detained by officers.

Sickels describes the chaos and confusion at the scene, where the investigation quickly spiraled into a series of legal and public relations disasters. Within days, the department was accused of covering up police brutality, with officers allegedly conspiring to hide evidence. A civil rights lawsuit filed by Sanders accused numerous officers, and while initial charges of murder were filed, they were later dropped. Sanders ultimately received a light sentence, causing widespread disillusionment with the justice system and the police department.

This book also details the subsequent consequences for the officers involved. Some were transferred or forced to resign, while others faced charges of police brutality. Although many officers eventually returned to their former roles, the stain on the department’s reputation remained.

Overall, Sickels emphasizes the profound impact of the case on the department and the officers who were involved. Despite the lack of justice for Faber, the story leaves a lingering sense of unresolved tragedy, as the Indianapolis Police Department never fully recovered from the scandal.