Clinton County Sheriff’s Office

Clinton County Sheriff’s Office Motorcycle Patrol Presence Leads to Arrest of Crawfordsville Man on Multiple Outstanding Warrants

Published on January 8, 2024 by Brett W. Todd

Michael Walker, 35, of Crawfordsville was arrested on outstanding warrants for FTA Possession of a Synthetic Narcotic (Montgomery County), Dealing Methamphetamine (Howard County) and Carrying a Handgun without a License (Howard County) on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at approximately 3:30p.m. in Clinton County Indiana after a brief foot pursuit. (Photo: Clinton County Sheriff's Office)

CLINTON COUNTY, Ind. (January 8, 2024) – According to the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), Michael Walker, 35, of Crawfordsville was arrested on outstanding warrants for FTA Possession of a Synthetic Narcotic (Montgomery County), Dealing Methamphetamine (Howard County) and Carrying a Handgun without a License (Howard County) on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at approximately 3:30p.m.

CCSO Sergeant Tom Farlow and Sergeant Thomas Pelling were returning to the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office on their Harley Davidson patrol motorcycles following the completion of a funeral escort, when they observed a suspicious vehicle in the area of County Roads 500N and 300E. The vehicle, a Black 1995 Dodge Dakota pickup truck pulled into a residence familiar to both sergeants. After notifying the homeowner, they learned the vehicle did not belong at the property. Deputy Nick Light and Deputy Nevin Creasy were also returning from the same funeral escort in their fully marked Tahoes and arrived on scene to assist.

Upon pulling into the residence, Sergeant Pelling observed a male subject fleeing the vehicle on foot. At this time, Sergeant Joey Mitchell (K9 Rip), Deputy Nevin Creasy, Detective Mark Pinkard and Detective Jon Greiner responded, along with Frankfort Police Department Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Operator Officer Brett Waggoner.

Officer Waggoner deployed his UAV and quickly located the suspect. During the investigation, deputies determined the truck had been reported stolen out of Montgomery County.

Deputies have requested additional charges of Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Syringe and Possession of Marijuana; formal charges are pending review by the Clinton County Prosecutor’s Office.

Former Clinton County Sheriff, Frankfort Police Chief Paul Underwood Dies

Published on January 8, 2024 by Brett W. Todd

Former Clinton County Sheriff, Frankfort Police Chief Paul Underwood died January 5, 2024, at the age of 92. (Photo: Clinton County Sheriff's Office)

FRANKFORT, Ind. (January 8, 2024) – Former Clinton County Sheriff and Frankfort Police Chief Paul Underwood died January 5th at the age of 92.

Underwood joined the Frankfort Police Department in 1960 and served as chief from 1980 to 1984. Upon retirement from FPD in 1986, he was elected sheriff two-times serving from 1987 through 1994.

Prior to a career in law enforcement, Underwood served in the U.S. Army from 1951-1953, making the rank of Corporal.

Visitation will be from 12 Noon-3 p.m. Friday, January 12, 2024, at Goodwin Funeral Home, 200 S. Main St., Frankfort. Funeral service will begin at 3 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Bunnell Cemetery.

110-year Sentence for NHK Killer

Published on September 7, 2023 by Brett W. Todd

FRANKFORT, Ind. (September 7, 2023) – Gary Ferrell, 28, will spend 110-years in state prison for the “brutal and heinous” murders of Promise Mays and Pamela Sledd in the parking lot of NHK Seating of America outside of Frankfort on August 18, 2021.

Clinton County Superior Court Judge Justin Hunter read the sentence aloud today after hearing final arguments from both Prosecutor Anthony Sommer and Stacy Uliana, defense attorney for Ferrell.

Judge Hunter, who had the discretion of sentencing between 45-years and 65-years per murder, handed-down the recommended guideline sentence of 55-years for each of the murders and ordered Ferrell to serve the sentences consecutively, one sentence immediately after the other. The Judge did note the Court rejects any characterization of the sentence as a “DeFacto LWOP sentence,” life without parole sentence.

Ferrell had previously faced the death penalty; however, the death penalty was removed upon Ferrell’s change of plea to guilty.

Judge Hunter wrote, “On motion of the State, the request of the State for imposition of the death penalty is withdrawn, which is appropriate in this case because of the evidence of the defendant’s intellectual disability.”

He further wrote in the sentencing order, “The Court further finds that it is appropriate that the sentences for Murder in this case be treated consecutively, and the Court would have rejected any plea agreement that did not call for consecutive sentencing for the two murders. To fail to treat the sentences consecutively would be a denial of justice to the victims and their families and only diminish the seriousness of defendant’s conduct.”

Ferrell received credit of 750 actual days served in jail from the date of the offense together with Class B credit time.

In coming to his decision, Judge Hunter noted both seven aggravating and seven mitigating factors – coming to the conclusion that each set factors “balance.”

The seven aggravating factors were noted as:
1. The Murders were brutal and heinous.
2. Defendant premeditated the Murder of Promise Mays, and Defendant was lying in wait for Promise Mays at a location where he could reasonably expect that she would not have any weapon, device or instrument to be able to protect herself.
3. The victims were both much physically weaker than the defendant himself.
4. The harm, injury, loss or damage suffered by the victims was significant and greater than the elements necessary to prove the commission of the offense. More specifically, both victims watched the other being shot, and defendant committed the murders while he was committing an offense of confinement with a deadly weapon.
5. Defendant deliberately chose to inflict his pain and harm upon his victims with a gun, during shift change at NHK, when he knew that many other workers at NHK would be in the immediate vicinity and thereby subject to the risk of harm from the use of a weapon.
6. Defendant acted out an entitlement to control and possess Promise Mays, whether in life or in death, even though she had demonstrated only kindness for the many people whom she encountered in her short and precious life.
7. With respect to the Murder he inflicted upon Pamela Sledd, Defendant shot Ms. Sledd after she had named her back and was retreating from the scene of the offense she had witnessed against her granddaughter. She was of no threat whatsoever to the defendant and his plan to murder and commit suicide.

And, the seven mitigating factors noted were:
1. Defendant led a law-abiding life for a substantial period before commission of the crime.
2. Defendant was cooperative with law enforcement, with the Court process, with his attorneys, and he accepted responsibility for his criminal conduct by confessing and entering a plea of guilty to both murders.
3. Defendant has made an expression of remo
4. Defendant suffers from an intellectual disability which profoundly affected his judgment and actions.
5. Defendant suffered from trauma in his childhood.
6. The defendant had an alcohol use disorder that contributed to his depression.
7. Prior to the murders, Defendant had an otherwise good character.

In coming to the decision that the “aggravating factors and the mitigating factors balance,” Judge Hunter wrote, “Although the Court assigns a substantial weight to mitigating factors recited above, the weight does not exceed the weight the Court gives to the aggravating factors; and the Court further finds that seriousness of the offenses-multiple murders committed at a workplace against helpless co-workers-carries an impact on not only the victims’ families but a community of many.”

Ferrell was remanded into the care of the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office for transport to the Indiana Department of Correction for service of the sentence.

Pursuant to the Pleas Agreement, Ferrell has waived his right to any appeal.

NHK Killer: “I understand that my acts caused an unimaginable amount of pain and torment”

Published on August 30, 2023 by Brett W. Todd

FRANKFORT, Ind. (August 30, 2023) – Towards the conclusion of nearly five-hours of testimony conducted in a Clinton County courtroom today, family members and friends of Promise Mays and Pamela Sledd heard directly from the killer that took the lives of those two on the afternoon of August 18, 2021, in a NHK parking lot near State Road 28 and Interstate 65.

Clinton County Superior Court Judge Justin Hunter asked if the defendant, Gary Ferrell II, would like to make a statement to the court.

Ferrell – who spent much of the proceedings looking downward and away, avoiding eye contact of those called to deliver impact statements – stood and began to apologize “for the acts of violence for which I am guilty of.”

Reading from a folded piece of paper, he continued, “I have taken the lives of two innocent human beings and inflicted unimaginable pain onto the victims family, friends and to my own family. For all of this, I am deeply sorry. I understand that my acts caused an unimaginable amount of pain and torment for those that knew them the best. If I could do it all over again, I would have gotten the help I need instead of letting my own pain get out of control. I am very sorry.”

Earlier in the hearing Clinton County Prosecutor Tony Sommer played two videos from NHK security cameras showing what Judge Hunter described as “brutal murders.”

The videos, one from a camera looking from the building towards the parking lot, the other from an outer parking lot area looking back towards the building, revealed scenes previously described in a 2021 probable cause affidavit.

Ferrell’s blue Focus was parked next to a black Chevrolet in which Mays was a passenger. Ferrell opened the trunk of his car then “exits his vehicle with a black object in his right hand that appears to be a semi-automatic firearm.” He then walked to the passenger door of the black Chevrolet, opened the door, “forcibly pulls” Mays by grabbing her arm, and “pulls her to the rear of the blue Ford.” Mays attempts to resist but is “over powered.”

Sledd exits the driver side of the black Chevrolet and has “an exchange of words” with Ferrell prior to him making a “pointing motion with the firearm towards the NHK building.” Sledd attempts to “move away from the scene” and “appears she is shot when Ferrell lowers the gun” at Sledd. She continues to “move away” from Ferrell and the video appears to show “that a second and third round are shot” at Sledd and she “collapses on the ground.”

Mays is now in a “crouched type position” behind the blue Focus. Ferrell has his gun pointed at Mays’ “head and is still trying to force Promise into the trunk of his vehicle.”

“Ferrell then appears to shoot Promise and then she falls to the ground behind the Ford Focus and lies motionless.” He then enters his vehicle leaving the trunk open and “after a few seconds the vehicle backs up and runs over Promise and comes to a rest after turning about 90 degrees. Promise’s body is drug about 7 feet and the car stops and then goes forward, leaving the parking lot.”

In addition to the security video, Prosecutor Sommer played the video of the interview Lt. Dan Roudebush of the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office conducted with Ferrell on the evening of the arrest.

Lt. Roudebush asked Ferrell why had he done what he done. Ferrell replied, “I couldn’t get her (Promise) out of my mind.” When asked to describe what led up to the killings that afternoon, Ferrell described drinking the night before and waking in the morning to drive to Lafayette to purchase ammunition, then return to his house to fill the empty beer bottles with gasoline, and going to get more gasoline.

Judge Hunter will deliver Ferrell’s sentence in open court during a September 7th, 2pm hearing at the Clinton County Courthouse.

State Files Suit Against Kelly’s Seeking Restitution, Adds to Growing List of Cases Alleging Nepotism and Commissary Issues

Published on April 2, 2023April 2, 2023 by Brett W. Todd

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita filed suit against Clinton County Sheriff Rich Kelly and his wife Ashley Kelly on Thursday, March 30, seeking restitution from conclusions contained within a November 23, 2021, State Board of Accounts (SBOA) audit.

FRANKFORT, Ind. (April 2, 2023) – Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita filed suit against Clinton County Sheriff Rich Kelly and his wife Ashley Kelly on Thursday, March 30, seeking restitution from conclusions contained within a November 23, 2021, State Board of Accounts (SBOA) audit. The suit alleges the Kelly’s of “malfeasance, misfeasance, and/or nonfeasance”; this action adds to a growing list of lawsuits involving the Kelly’s as either defendants or plaintiffs.

Rokita alleges in the 16-page complaint the SBOA found the Kelly’s violated the Clinton County nepotism ordinance – Sheriff Kelly challenged the merits of the Clinton County nepotism ordinance in its own, separate legal action in a Tippecanoe County court against the Clinton County Commissioners and County Council. The case was originally filed by the County in 2021 and amended in 2022 to include the Sheriff’s complaint. The Sheriff won – the judge ruling the Clinton County nepotism ordinance did not forbid the Sheriff from hiring his wife.

Rokita also alleges the Kelly’s failed to file a conflict of interest form stating Ashley is the wife of the Sheriff and no written contract to perform commissary services by either Ashley or Leonne LLC was provided to the County. Both are at issue in a separate civil lawsuit filed in 2022 by the Kelly’s against attorney Tom Little in Tippecanoe County; Leonne LLC is a company formed in 2018 by the Kelly’s prior to the beginning on Sheriff Kelly’s term, Ashley listed as a 51% owner, the Sheriff a 49% owner.

Court filings in that 2022 Tippecanoe County case allege attorney Little provided in December 2018 a conflict of interest form that described a dependent relationship and commissary work to be performed by Ashley to the then-members of the Clinton County Commissioners and County Council. Court filings also contain two communication logs that allegedly detail back-and-forth, email and messaging exchanges with various elected members of Clinton County government and select employees of Clinton County government attached to some of those communications.

Currently both the Kelly’s and attorney Little are awaiting a judge’s decision on whether any of those communications must be disclosed.

Those same communications and conflict form are at issue in each of the Kelly’s 2022 criminal cases – Rokita described the criminal cases as “correlated” in his filing, the criminal charges relating to the work done in the SBOA audit. In the criminal cases, the Kelly’s claim Special Prosecutor David Thomas has failed to turn over discovery while the Special Prosecutor has requested a change of venue. The judge in the criminal cases has yet to rule on either. The Kelly’s are each charged with four Level 6 Felony counts.

Rokita’s filing also details the monetary amount that was paid combined to Leonne LLC and Ashley, $219,634.65 – an item the SBOA stated was “improperly issued.” Those same payments were questioned by County Commissioners and County Council in the 2021 Tippecanoe County case; the judge ruled the payments were excessive. Sheriff Kelly has a pending case before the Court of Appeals seeking reversal of the judge’s ruling – this is the same appeals case the County Commissioners and County Council have required the Sheriff to dismiss before the respective Boards will sign-off on a 2023 commissary contract.

Rokita is asking for the funds to be paid back, plus the cost of the SBOA to perform the audit; the total of those two approaching $330,000. Also, Rokita alleges Clinton County has suffered “a pecuniary loss as a result of a violation of specified criminal codes” and is seeking treble damages – the amount times three. The suit for repayment comes from the Indiana Crime Victims Relief Act.

The Indiana Court of Appeals in 2023 addressed an issue of pecuniary interest in the Clinton County Commissioners appeal of an e-cigarette case originally filed by Sheriff Kelly in 2021 where a lower court judge ruled the Commissioners had exceeded its power stating, “that the Board cannot regulate by ordinance the conduct of inmates housed in the Clinton County Jail and cannot restrict the right of the Sheriff to sell or of inmates in the Clinton County Jail to purchase and use e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches that do not contain tobacco products within the confines of the Clinton County Jail.”

The Commissioners on appeal claimed Sheriff Kelly was selling the product so he and his wife could profit.

The Court of Appeals justices stated, “In their motion to correct error, the Commissioners asserted they were entitled to a relief from judgment based on newly discovered material evidence, specifically that ‘the sale of e-cigarettes was not solely for commissary revenue, but that Plaintiffs acted based upon undisclosed personal pecuniary interests.’ However, we need not consider any alleged newly discovered evidence creating a question of material fact because we have concluded the Sheriff’s Office is expressly granted the authority to control the care of prisoners in the jail under the Take Care Provision as a matter of law.”

Commissioner Jordan Brewer stated in a March 2023 interview the Board is still deciding whether to file an appeal to the Indiana Supreme Court.

In addition to those lawsuits, the Kelly’s have filed a civil claim against Clinton County Prosecutor Anthony Sommer in 2022 alleging defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Prosecutor Sommer denies those allegations and has asked a Boone County court to dismiss the lawsuit; a hearing is set for April 17. Sommer is being represented by an attorney from Rokita’s office according to court documents.

The Kelly’s have 20-days to respond to the Rokita suit.

A note to the reader. Some of the legal cases mentioned in this article involve reporting and interviews conducted by journalist Brett W. Todd; the work produced might be cited as part of specific case litigation filed by various parties in those respective cases.

Clinton County Commissioners Lose Legal Appeal to Sheriff Kelly

Published on March 18, 2023 by Brett W. Todd

The three members of the Board of Commissioners for Clinton County Indiana discuss a topic during a meeting in this file photo. From left-to-right, Commissioners Bert Weaver, Josh Uitts, Jordan Brewer. (Photo: Brett W. Todd)

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (March 18, 2023) – A three-judge panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals unanimously ruled the trial court did not err when concluding the Clinton County Commissioners exceeded its authority when they amended the county smoking ordinance in an attempt to prohibit inmates from purchasing and using tobacco-free products within the jail.

The appellate ruling issued March 9th came after oral arguments in Indianapolis on January 10th regarding whether or not Special Judge Samuel Swaim erred in his October 8, 2021, ruling in favor of Clinton County Sheriff Kelly’s suit when Judge Swaim said in part, “that the Board cannot regulate by ordinance the conduct of inmates housed in the Clinton County Jail and cannot restrict the right of the Sheriff to sell or of inmates in the Clinton County Jail to purchase and use e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches that do not contain tobacco products within the confines of the Clinton County Jail.”

On appeal, the Commissioners contended Judge Swaim erred when he ruled in the Sheriff’s favor because, pursuant to the Indiana Home Rule Act, the Sheriff had only the powers expressly granted by statute. Based on their interpretation of the Home Rule Act and cases cited, the Commissioners asserted the relevant statutes do not grant the Sheriff unlimited discretion regarding what is sold to inmates at the Clinton County Jail.

Sheriff Kelly contended the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission regulated the Sheriff’s sale of the e-cigarettes and Indiana law expressly entrusts the Sheriff with the care of the jail and the prisoners therein – known as the “take care” provision.

The Court of Appeals ruled that while the Commissioners “had authority under the Home Rule Act to enact the revised county smoking ordinance as a general ordinance governing the use of e-cigarettes in county buildings, Indiana Code section 36-2-13-5(a)(7) – (the “take care” provision) – expressly gives the Sheriff’s Office the power to “take care” of prisoners and the revised ordinance does not apply to the activity of prisoners in the county jail.”

No public statement as of publishing on whether the Commissioners will appeal this ruling to the Indiana Supreme Court.

Sheriff: “Extortion” – Commissioners & Council Demand Sheriff Drop Pending Appellate Case to Receive Commissary Contract Approval

Published on February 21, 2023 by Brett W. Todd

FRANKFORT, Ind. – “This contract that was provided by Commissioner Brewer, yes, it does feel like extortion,” commented Clinton County Sheriff Rich Kelly. The Sheriff’s comment was made after Clinton County Today requested a copy of the presented 2023 Commissary Manager contract through a public records request and review of the document.

The contract was presented to Sheriff Kelly by Commissioners’ President Jordan Brewer on January 18 during its public meeting.

During the public meeting, Commissioner Brewer addressed a few of the items contained within the contract; however, he did not mention the specific provision regarding the action the Sheriff must take to receive approval.

The presented document states in line 19, “Approval. The parties agree and understand that this agreement shall have no force and be of no effect unless and until it is approved by the Clinton County Council and Commissioners. In order to obtain that approval, the Sheriff will dismiss his appeal pending in the Court of Appeals under Cause No. 22A-PL-02640.”

The Court of Appeals case referenced in line 19 is pending briefing according to online court entries; the Sheriff’s brief is due on or before February 26, 2023.

Commissioner Brewer was asked for comment regarding line 19 after a January 31 County Council meeting.

“I’d have to look at it,” stated Brewer. “I don’t have it in my memory at the moment.”

Asked if he has no recollection of that paragraph, he commented, “Not the specific language. So for me to comment, I would like to have it in front of me.”

When told of the Sheriff’s comment regarding the contract feeling like “extortion” and asked if he would disagree with the Sheriff’s assessment, he said, “I think I would disagree with that.”

County Council President Alan Dunn was asked about the contract and the Sheriff’s comment after its February 14 meeting.

“No more than I felt extorted when he was gonna cut all my funding from the inmate program,” replied Councilman Dunn.

The inmate program referenced by Dunn is the Federal Inmate Program that houses pre-sentenced federal inmates awaiting final sentencing and inmates sentenced to the Indiana Department of Correction (IDC).

Clinton County Today previously reported on the comments made by Sheriff Kelly during a County Council meeting held August 9, 2022, regarding the commissioners plan to change the county nepotism ordinance and how that might cause a change in programs offered by the Sheriff’s Office and Jail.

Commissioner Brewer presented the change in the nepotism ordinance and it passed first reading to later be tabled and never brought up again for final reading and adoption.

Federal inmates held in the Clinton County jail generate yearly revenue approaching $1.5 million plus an additional $500,000 received from the IDC. The Federal Inmate program was started by Sheriff Kelly and Jail Matron Ashley Kelly, his wife.

Dunn continued, “You know, I think it’s, it’s positioning. It’s trying to have a discussion that moves us in a positive direction. I hope that that’s the way we can take this. I didn’t intend it to be extortion. I intended it to be an effort to settle all of the issues on the table.”

Sheriff Kelly stated in our interview he is not prepared to sign the contract and wave his rights as sheriff or the agency’s rights to the Court of Appeals process.

“This is something that was put on an agenda, an [amended] agenda – the day before this meeting. I was unable to prepare or have my legal counsel take a look at it. And it is something that, you know, it’s, it’s frustrating. It’s something that you know, obviously I’m not going to, you know sign or agree to this contract.”

Ashley Kelly has served as commissary manager since January 1, 2019. For greater than the past 12 months, she has worked as commissary manager without pay or contract due to pending litigation between the County Council and Commissioners and Sheriff’s Office.

“The salary has been stopped due to all the litigation,” added Sheriff Kelly. “And it’s truly the County wants to benefit from work and services provided and yet not pay for that… the county benefits from the commissary fund; it purchases equipment in the kitchen that the county obviously wants us to do, it buys bedding, it buys training, it buys all kind of things that are needed at the sheriff’s office.”

Commissioners, Sheriff Work To Pass Camping Ordinance

Published on October 5, 2022October 5, 2022 by Brett W. Todd

CLINTON COUNTY, Ind. – A recent incident of a person setting-up a campsite between a roadway and a private citizens’ front property line outside of incorporated limits left the sheriff’s office without an enforcement option to legally remove the person according to Commissioners President Jordan Brewer during the Tuesday commissioners meeting.

The title of the ordinance – the camping ordinance – “can be a little misleading, but it’s in regards to pedaling and solicitation,” stated Brewer when introducing the ordinance to the board.

Brewer provided the history of why there is a need for this ordinance, “we had an issue a couple weeks ago where there was an individual who was evicted from their home and they decided to go to a vacant lot and set up tent and that landowner had ’em removed. So at that point, they decided to go to the county right-of-way between the road and someone’s house – essentially what someone would consider is the front yard and throw up their campsite.”

“It put the sheriff’s department a precarious situation because they didn’t have any ability to have this person removed; there was some concern that the person was on drugs and just some other issues going on mentally. The homeowners in that area had little kids. And so I think everyone that had kids would see the concern that this person’s in their, what they presume is their front yard, that’s the county right-of-way and their kids can’t go outside or this person may try and break in their home. I mean, there’s just a lot of issues, but we had no legal ability to do anything.”

The commissioner spoke to both Sheriff Kelly and Matron Kelly to determine how best to resolve an issue like this going forward.

“In conversation with the sheriff and the matron, it was presented to us that there’s an ordinance that some other counties have out there that would allow for them to have the ability to remove this person,” commented Brewer.

Sheriff Kelly was thankful of the commissioners actions when asked after the meeting.

“It’ll help us because we have a handful of situations throughout the year with the different agencies here in Clinton County – from Frankfort Police to the Town Marshalls – that we’ll have people that’ll either be coming through the area and they’ll select a spot and they set up a campsite or tent and they stay,” said Kelly. “It gives us the opportunity to enforce an ordinance that we can have them move their things, leave the property without incident.”

The sheriff continued, “it’s a little unnerving when people find people on their property… it’s somebody else’s property where it’s the county’s property and it’s not designed to house anybody or to allow anybody to camp there.”

In the specific incident that brought about the action of the newly passed ordinance, two community organizations assisted in providing care for the person – allowing the person to leave the campsite.

“It ended up working out the best case scenario,” said Brewer. “We go Lorra Archibald [of] Healthy Communities involved, and Jami Pratt [with] Home For The Night and we’re thankful for both of those individuals in their help – we ended up getting this person in Home For The Night and, and getting them to a mental rehab facility.”

Brewer thanked the Sheriff’s Department for its assistance.

“We are thankful to the Sheriff’s Department,” Brewer commented. “They sent over another counties and we just adopted it and made a few tweaks to fit our community.”

The new ordinance will become effective in 30-days after legal publication according to state statute.

Active Shooter Preparedness Training To Be Conducted In Former Regions Building

Published on September 8, 2022 by Brett W. Todd

Active Shooter Preparedness Training To Be Conducted In Old Regions Building — The Clinton County Commissioners approved the use of a county owned property located at 2 E. Washington St., in Frankfort, to conduct active shooter preparedness drills by members of the Frankfort Police Department and Clinton County Sheriff's Office SWAT team prior to construction of a planned county annex in the Fall of 2022. (Photo: Brett W. Todd)

FRANKFORT, Ind. – The site of the former Regions building at 2 E. Washington St., in Frankfort, will be used by members of the Frankfort Police Department and Clinton County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team to conduct active shooter preparedness drills in the coming weeks.

The Clinton County Commissioners, the now property owner, approved the request to conduct the events during its Wednesday (September 7) meeting.

Commissioner Bert Weaver described the request as, “they would like to come inside and use it as an active shooter type situation.” The drills would be completed prior to the scheduled remodeling this coming Fall for the planned county annex expansion.

Commissioners President Jordan Brewer added, “I think it would be a great advantage for them to have a facility. I mean, that’s 39,000 square feet. So now they get to do some real life practice. And hopefully we never are in that situation in this community, but it’s best to be prepared if so.”

The commissioners gave the go-ahead to perform additional tactical drills that might include breaching of doors or walls given the upcoming construction and demolition.

“I don’t know a lot of rooms now, maybe if they have to push through a door or something, that’s all probably okay cause I think that the majority of that’s going to be torn out anyways.”

Decision to Move Forward with Revised County Nepotism Ordinance Remains “Day-By-Day”

Published on September 7, 2022 by Brett W. Todd

CLINTON COUNTY, Ind. – The Clinton County Commissioners did not address a revision to the county’s nepotism policy at its Wednesday (September 7) meeting after voting to table a final reading at the previous August 22nd meeting. The proposed revision would prohibit the sheriff from hiring his wife as jail matron as well as forbid the coroner from serving as deputy coroner should the successor in office of the Coroner be a relative of the individual.

Commissioners President Jordan Brewer said, “it’s on the table, which now I think technically it’s, it’s off the table since we didn’t address it at this meeting,” when asked about the status of the proposed revision.

Brewer did say the revision most likely will have to be reintroduced again should such action be taken.

“So, it could always be brought back up if the legal advice I’ve received is correct – through another first reading, but for the time being it’s sitting there.”

When asked about the policy change occurring this year, Brewer said, “I don’t know that I can answer that question because – there’s not really – it’s day-by-day, I guess”

The next Commissioners meeting will be held October 4th. The September 19th meeting has been canceled due to the annual conference of the Association of Indiana Counties being held at that time with the commissioners planning to attend.

NEWS – EVENTS – COMMUNITY – GIVEAWAYS