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Phoenix cop indicted on sex, alcohol accusations By DANI DODGE A Jackson County grand jury indicted a Phoenix police officer Thursday on six misdemeanor charges related to sexual misconduct and plying teenage girls with alcohol. Jon Edward Bigman also was indicted on a felony charge of tampering with a witness. "Basically that involves our allegation that he attempted to contact one of the witnesses in the case and influence their statement," Klamath County District Attorney Ed Caleb said. The attempt to influence the witness occurred after Bigman knew he was being investigated, Caleb said. (A Klamath County special prosecutor presented the indictment to the grand jury instead of Jackson County prosecutors to avoid the appearance of any conflict of interest.) The grand jury indicted Bigman, 31, of Phoenix on the following misdemeanor charges: two counts of third-degree sex abuse, two counts of furnishing alcohol to a minor, and two counts of public indecency. Authorities allege Bigman plied two teenage girls with alcohol, exposed himself in their presence and fondled one of them at least twice. The incidents allegedly occurred when he was off-duty, including one time at another officer's wedding reception. He was arrested by Oregon State Police officers on Sept. 8. He was booked at the Jackson County Jail and released after posting 10 percent of his $24,000 bail. Bigman, a Phoenix officer since 1995, is a graduate of Rogue River High School and Western Oregon University, where he earned degrees in criminal justice and geology. He also served four years in the Army before going to college. Last week, Bigman was placed on administrative leave without pay for a year, or pending the outcome of a trial, according to Phoenix Mayor Larry Parducci. The council chose to put Bigman on leave instead of firing him to avoid paying back wages if he is exonerated. A reserve officer was hired to take the vacant position. "It works out good for him and the city: It gives the officer a chance to find another job and get some salary," Parducci said. "If he's exonerated because he's innocent like he says, it gives him a chance to prove it." Bigman was the second Phoenix police officer this year to find himself on the wrong side of the law. Officer Mike West resigned and left the state after he was accused of choking a belligerent but handcuffed shoplifter. West's next court date is Nov. 23. Bigman's arraignment on the charges has not been scheduled. Phoenix Police Chief Bob Kershaw said Bigman had been a good officer. If he is convicted of the charges, he will be fired, Kershaw said. If he's found to be innocent, then the department will do an internal investigation before determining his employment status. "Every time one of these incidents happens, from the federal level on down, it gives the profession a black eye," Kershaw said. "It's unfortunate the incidents of a few give the whole profession a bad name, but it happens in any profession." Kershaw said he has a meeting scheduled with officers today regarding employee conduct on and off duty, "and there will be changes." He said residents of Phoenix can be confident in their police department. "We are still out there doing the job and will continue to do it as competently and proficiently as possible," he said. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA