Jon L. Rohde, who is Columbus police chief and also an attorney, has announced that he plans to seek the Republican nomination for Bartholomew Superior Court 2 judge next year.
Rohde, 40, has been Columbus police chief for five years, with more than 18 years of service to the police department. He received his doctorate of jurisprudence in 2007 and was admitted to practice law in the state in 2008.
The police chief said he is currently working through the logistics of running for a judgeship while continuing to serve as police chief, saying he remains committed to the city and the police department.
With almost 19 years in law enforcement, Rohde said he had been considering his next step when his law enforcement career was ending. With a genuine interest in the practice of law that began early in his career, Rohde said he wanted to stay in public service and to utilize his law degree.
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Three other Republicans have announced they also plan to seek the nomination, including Magistrate Joe Meek, who has served as Superior Court 2 magistrate since 2003, local attorney Dominic Glover and local attorney Scott C. Andrews.
The candidates are seeking to replace long-time Judge Kathleen “Kitty” Tighe Coriden, who is retiring.
For the past several years, Rohde has spent his free time educating students as an adjunct professor, first teaching criminal justice courses at Ivy Tech Community College and more recently teaching commercial law as an adjunct professor at IUPUC.
During his time off from the department, Rohde has also worked as an attorney for the law firm of Worton & Rohde with his then-law partner, and current Superior Court 1 Judge Jim Worton. After Worton was elected judge, Rohde continued his work as an attorney for the Rohde Law Offices, and was selected by the Indiana Supreme Court to serve as the Bartholomew County mortgage facilitator.
Rohde attended Indiana University, where, in three-and-a half years, he graduated with two Bachelor of Arts degrees, one in criminal justice and the other in political science. While attending IU, he completed the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and received his law enforcement certifications.
After obtaining his undergraduate degrees, Rohde was hired as a police officer by the Columbus Police Department. Several years later, he was accepted into the Indiana University School of Law. For the next three-and-a-half years, Rohde worked full time on third shift as a police officer, and during the day attended law school at least five days a week year-round.
Following law school graduation, Rohde worked his way through the ranks at the Columbus Police Department, serving as a narcotics detective, sergeant over the narcotics division, administrative captain and, for the past five years, police chief.
Rohde is a 2015 graduate and current board member of Leadership Bartholomew County, Veteran’s Court committee member, Family Recovery Court steering committee member, Adult Drug Court committee member, chairman of the local Evidence-Based Decision Making policy team and a member of the Governor’s Work Ethic Advisory Board.
He also served as an adviser to the Indiana Supreme Court Family Information Sharing Guide work group as well as many other local and state organizations.
In 2013, Rohde received the Columbus Young Professionals 20 Under 40 Award and was a 2018 recipient of the Foundation for Youth’s “It Takes a Village” award.
Rohde is married to Sarah Rohde and has four children, Falesha, Klayton, Bailey and Emerson.
Rohde said his campaign slogan is “Leadership You Know and Trust.”
“We felt those words were appropriate because I’ve worked hard to earn the reputation as a person who is willing to take on the difficult and tedious projects that need to be done in order to affect positive change, while also handling every situation, good or bad, with honesty and integrity,” Rohde said.
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Name: Jonathan (Jon) L. Rohde
Age: 40
Education: Bremen High School Class of 1997. Graduated from Indiana University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice and a Bachelor of Arts in political science. Graduated the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 2000. Received a law degree from Indiana University in 2007. Granted admission to the Indiana State Bar, United States District Court Southern District and the United States District Court Northern District in 2008. Graduated from the Police Executive Leadership Academy in 2014.
Career: Law enforcement officer with Columbus Police Department for more than 18 years and police chief for the past five years. Prior adjunct professor for Indiana University and Ivy Tech. Prior attorney for Worton & Rohde; current attorney for Rohde Law Offices. Prior mortgage facilitator for the Indiana Supreme Court, and current mortgage facilitator for Bartholomew County Circuit Court and Bartholomew Superior Court 1.
Community Activities: Columbus Young Professionals 20 Under 40 Award recipient 2013; Leadership Bartholomew County 2015 graduate and current board member; Governor’s Work Ethic Advisory Board member; Indiana State Bar Association member; Bartholomew County Bar Association member; Veteran’s Court Committee member; Family Recovery Court Steering Committee member; Adult Drug Court Committee member; chair of the local Evidence-Based Decision Making policy team; IACP District 8 representative; IACP Training Committee member; IACP Government Relations Committee member; Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative member; Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization member; Healthy Communities Council member; Fatality Review Committee member; Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress adviser; Youth Services Center Advisory Board member; Bartholomew County Community Corrections Advisory Board member; Local Emergency Planning Committee member; Emergency Management Advisory Council member; Bartholomew County 911 Board member; Substance Abuse Accountability and Advisory Committee member; Fraternal Order of Police member; St. Peter’s Lutheran Church member; Shop with a Cop volunteer; Foundation for Youth "It Takes a Village" award winner 2018; past adviser to the Indiana Supreme Court Family Information Sharing Guide work group; past Police Athletic Activities League volunteer; past Foundation for Youth volunteer; past March of Dimes volunteer; past Childhood Connections Board member.
Family: Wife, Sarah. Children, Falesha (18), Klayton (15), Bailey (8) and Emerson (6).
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