Bartholomew County’s first-term incumbent sheriff is facing a primary challenge from two Republicans hoping to receive the party’s nomination in May.
Sheriff Matt Myers, who retired as a Columbus Police Department officer after 22 years of service, was elected sheriff Nov. 4, 2014, and is completing his first term.
He is being challenged for the Republican nomination in the primary by retired county deputy sheriff Rob Kittle and former Indiana State Police trooper Tamara S. Watson.
The three Republicans differ on several issues, including whether the old portion of the jail should be reopened and renovated for use — and if that is done, whether it should be used as a drug rehabilitation facility, which has been proposed through the Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress in Bartholomew County.
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Myers said he is prepared to help other community leaders, the Bartholomew County Council and the county commissioners address the effort to reopen the old portion of the jail.
“The immediate challenges are space and staffing,” Myers said. “The county council and county commissioners are already working with my office to address staffing and potential available space.”
Watson said she would re-examine any plan to use the jail space as a rehabilitation facility, saying cost is the biggest challenge.
“The sheriff has not been able to stay within budget for the last three years,” she said. “I am not in favor of any moves that further burden the taxpayers.”
Kittle said there are several challenges to overcome before the old jail could be used as a rehabilitation center.
“The first decisions to be made are what role should county government play in a rehabilitation center, how is that role funded and what is the long-term impact on Bartholomew County taxpayers,” Kittle said.
Other challenges are initial and ongoing expenses to upgrade existing technology; remodeling and maintaining the old jail section; and additional staffing needs and ongoing funding for staff.
Kittle said he thought other options would be available to reduce the inmate population and allow for existing space to be used in a rehabilitation effort.
Jail overcrowding also has become an issue over the past few years, since low-level felons were reassigned from state prisons to county jails.
In 2016, the average daily jail population was 160, Myers said. But in 2017, it increased to 230 inmates. Forty of those inmates were Level 6 felons, he said.
“The county council and county commissioners have partnered with us to endorse a Six Sigma study and jail analysis that allows us to address staffing and security issues,” Myers said.
Kittle said he would ensure that adequate staffing levels are met and maintained, and that all corrections staff receive the necessary training to recognize, diffuse and de-escalate a potentially violent situation. He said all staff members must receive ongoing defensive tactics training and it must be made clear to all inmates that all jail rules are consistently and strictly enforced.
Watson said she believes the jail is half empty, but priority should be given to open the jail to full capacity and functionality.
With an increasing number of arrests for possession of heroin and other dangerous drugs, candidates were asked what changes each would make to take more drug dealers off the street.
Myers said he would continue to support the changes he implemented at the beginning of his administration, including starting the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team.
The team includes the sheriff’s department, the Columbus police, the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s office and agents from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration who partner to share information and resources. During the last week of March and the first week of April, JNET reported 20 arrests for drug-related offenses in Columbus and Bartholomew County.
Watson said integrated enforcement efforts starts with surrounding counties.
“Drug dealers do not just operate in one county,” she said. “Since I am the only candidate with statewide undercover experience specializing in prescription drug investigations, I understand better how to fight this problem. Community involvement is a must.”
Kittle said he would create a Selective Enforcement Unit focused on intelligence gathering, investigation, interdiction and prosecution to aggressively target drug traffickers, manufacturers and local dealers. The unit would work collaboratively with existing covert drug enforcement efforts, he said.
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The sheriff job is a coveted one in Bartholomew County, with the sheriff paid at 80 percent of what the county prosecutor and judges receive, which totaled $115,310 in 2017, fully paid by the county. Prior to 2017, the sheriff’s job paid $113,049.
Indiana state law defines the sheriff’s duties as serving as the chief law enforcement officer for the county, supervise the county jail and its prisoners, serve all process directed to the sheriff from a court or county executive and to pursue and jail lawbreakers. The sheriff’s department has 137 staff members, including unpaid reserve officers, who are supervised by the sheriff.
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Find out where they stand:
Tamera S. Watson: http://www.therepublic.com/?p=933714&preview_id=933714&preview_nonce=f0b724fc11&post_format=standard&preview=true
