The Marion County Democratic Party chairman filed an ethics complaint Tuesday against Mayor Greg Ballard, alleging he violated ethics rules by using city property for private business.

The complaint centers on a police cruiser that was left in the lot of Maple Creek Golf and Country Club, which is owned by a contributor to Ballard’s campaign. The owner, David Bego, had told Ballard that several break-ins had occurred at the Far-Eastside club, according to the complaint.

The car, which had been stripped of its controls and was on a list to be auctioned, was left at the club for a month, and the keys were left with employees. It since has been removed from the lot.

According to the complaint, the use of the car signals favoritism toward the campaign contributor and was a move for private gain. Records show Bego contributed $990 worth of food and beverages to Ballard’s campaign in October 2007. Ballard, a Republican, defeated Democratic incumbent Bart Peterson the next month.

“This is just another example of the mayor using the police force for his own political goals,” said Ed Treacy, the Democratic Party chairman.

Mark Renner, the city’s interim public safety director, said planting vacant police cars is a strategy commanders use to deter crime at certain businesses or at homes of witnesses who may feel threatened. He did not know the number of cars being used in such a way throughout the county, but he estimated it’s been done a half-dozen times in the past few months.

“We’re all the time looking for ways to provide a police presence (and) provide crime deterrence,” Renner said.

In the case of the country club, Renner said, it was a mistake to leave the keys with the business, and he also said the car’s monthlong stay seemed lengthy. Putting the car at the lot, he said, would be the decision of the former district commander, who since has left the post. He said it’s possible the car was left at the country club for so long because it got lost in the shuffle as the new commander took the post a few weeks ago.

Treacy said he understood it was Ballard’s choice to leave the car there, though he could not specify how he knew that.

Bego could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Robert Vane, deputy chief of staff for Ballard, said the move was not a personal favor. He said the mayor frequently gets requests for help with issues such as potholes and stray animals at Mayor’s Night Out events.

“The mayor responds to personal appeals all the time,” Vane said. “It had nothing to do with any campaign contribution.”

The complaint is the first filed since a new ethics code was passed in September 2008.

Chris Cotterill, the city’s corporation counsel, will review the complaint as secretary to the Ethics Commission and will determine within the next 30 days whether it should proceed to the commission for review.

The complainant has the right to appeal Cotterill’s decision.