<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1MQEIa_1H2HzJNj00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1MQEIa_1H2HzJNj00" width="800" height="493" ><figcaption>Members of the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Merit Board pose for a photo after a meeting Thursday, Nov. 12. Pictured (L to R) are, front: Shari Benyousky, board member; Dana Huffer, board president; and Kosciusko County Sheriff Jim Smith; back: Alan Alderfer, board secretary; Matt Heiman, board member; and Bill Kelly, board member.</figcaption></figure>The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Merit Board remembered the anniversary of the death of a former sergeant and heard staff updates at a meeting Thursday.“On this day in 2009 at 2:47 p.m., Sgt. Jeffrey B. Shaw answered his final call of service in southern Kosciusko County,” said Public Information Officer Sgt. Doug Light.Shaw began his law enforcement career as a deputy in 1992 before serving as a corrections officer and becoming a merit deputy in 1998. At the time of his death, Shaw was a second-shift supervisor, Light said.He asked those present to “remember and honor Sgt. Shaw,” as well as his family.“It’s been 17 years, and like all of our fallen, we never forget,” Light stated.In other news, Light also shared the podcast “More Coffee Than Donuts,” hosted by himself and School Resource Officer Shaun Mudd, has a planned eighth episode featuring Sheriff Jim Smith after his first four years as Kosciusko County sheriff.Statistics for the podcast reportedly show downloads in Kosciusko County, Chicago and as far away as Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, Serbia, Norway, France, Belgium, Colombia, Portugal and Egypt.“I’d say we’re doing pretty good,” Light added. “I was pretty impressed people were listening from that far away to our podcast.”Light also reported several community outreach efforts took place in the last month, including Citizen’s Police Academy, Mayor Jeff Grose’s Youth Leadership Academy, Spooktacular and Trick-or-Treat on the Trail.Light shared an additional outreach effort at Grace Village surprised officers.“Some of us here in the room spent some time at Grace Village, if you hadn’t heard … so we spent some time with residents, which turned into painting some of the ladies’ fingernails,” Light said.Smith, who was at the event, added he and other officers thought they were going to Grace Village to have coffee.“We walked in, and I was never a detective, but I figured out pretty quick how this was going to go,” Smith said with a smile. “We did (paint nails), and, believe it or not, I actually enjoyed it.”He added the event “drives home” and “illustrates who we are,” remarking on how Lt. Mike Mulligan, Light and other officers and lieutenants were “getting after it.”Other BusinessDirector of Communications and Dispatch Amanda See shared yearly totals through Wednesday, Nov. 11, indicating the call center has received 22,099 911 calls and 57,000 administrative calls. Currently, 20 full-time employees work at the call center.In answering a question from Board Member Alan Alderfer, See stated the average tenure for dispatchers is three to five years. One employee is currently at 17 years of service. Tami Brooks, assistant director of 911 operations in Kosciusko County, stated those first three to five years “makes or breaks” a dispatcher. She added that less than 2% of those who interview for dispatch actually make it to the floor to work full time.Kosciusko County Recovery Program Resource Navigator Shanna Wallen stated that since July 8, 2024, KCRP has served 222 people, released 151 people and returned 17 people, making the recidivism rate approximately 11%.The KCRP’s Recovery in Action event will take place 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16 at the Zimmer Biomet Center Lake Pavilion. Community partners such as Fellowship Missions, Bowen Health, LITE Recovery, CleanSlate Outpatient Addiction Medicine, Kosciusko County Jail Ministry and Rose Garden Recovery Community will be present at the event. Wallen also stated that three participants from different phases of the recovery process will speak at the event.Jail Commander Lt. Kevin Gelbaugh updated the board on progress with the new tablet company, SMART. The company has started installing equipment and wiring, with a projected start date for installing hardware set for sometime in the next week. Jail Matron Michelle Hyden stated that transitioning to the new medical company, TK Health, has so far been “amazing” in regard to its “different level of medical care” and communication.Mulligan said patrol officers responded to 1,836 calls, made 176 reports and arrested 24 individuals in October. They also worked 91 traffic crashes.Investigations Commander Lt. Josh Spangle informed the board about the “kudos” detectives received after working on a recent shooting. The individual involved has already appeared before a grand jury and been indicted on six counts.“(Detectives) got a lot of kudos from the prosecutor’s office on how well they presented it and were able to successfully get that done,” Spangle said.The next merit board meeting, scheduled for Dec. 10, has been cancelled.</div></body>

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The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Merit Board remembered the anniversary of the death of a former sergeant and heard staff updates at a meeting Thursday. “On this day in 2009 at 2:47 p.m., Sgt. Jeffrey B. Shaw answered his final call of service in southern Kosciusko County,” said Public Information Officer Sgt. Doug Light.

Kosciusko Merit Board Remembers Fallen Sergeant, Hears Updates

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The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Merit Board remembered the anniversary of the death of a former sergeant and heard staff updates at a meeting Thursda

Kosciusko Merit Board Remembers Fallen Sergeant, Hears Updates

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