IMPD officer found dead was under internal investigation

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police detective who was found dead Monday was the subject of an internal investigation after another man was found dead at the same home last month, police said Wednesday.

Police on Wednesday identified the detective as Gregory Slaven, a 15-year veteran of the force assigned to the Northwest District. His body was found in a home in the 8600 block of Ingalls Lane on the Southwestside.

The coroner's office found no signs of trauma, but the cause and manner of death is still under investigation. Investigators say they do not suspect foul play in Slaven's death.

Slaven's death came nearly eight weeks after a 34-year-old man was found dead in the same home. His cause of death is still pending toxicology test results. That man's estranged mother told The Indianapolis Star in April that her son and Slaven were in a relationship.

IMPD spokesman Lt. Rick Riddle said Slaven was placed on paid administrative leave as a result of the internal investigation, which was prompted because of the 34 year old's death. According to a police report, officers who responded to the 34-year-old man's death April 5 found chloroform and used duct tape in the home.

IMPD Chief Rick Hite told The Star in April that Slaven was not a suspect in any criminal probe in connection with the 34-year-old's death and that Slaven was not suspended because of the death.

A suspension, during which an officer is unpaid, is the result of a completed investigation in which wrongdoing is uncovered by the department.

According to personnel files released by IMPD on Wednesday, Slaven's only department suspension was in 2004. The personnel file does not specifically say what actions led to the one-day suspension.

Riddle said the police chief has the discretion to place a member of IMPD on administrative leave during an internal investigation, which Riddle said is what happened in Slaven's case.

Hite did not respond to phone calls Wednesday requesting further comment about that internal investigation.

Riddle said the internal investigation was still active when Slaven was found dead Monday.

Star reporter John Tuohy contributed to this story. Call Star reporter Madeline Buckley at (317) 444-6083. Follow her on Twitter: @Mabuckley88.