NORTH VERNON — Starting today, Keith Messer is the new police chief of the North Vernon Police Department.
Mayor Mike Ochs recently announced the lieutenant had been selected as the successor for former police chief James Webster.
Webster has retired from NVPD, but recently accepted a position with the new Columbus Regional Hospital Police Department.
Ochs said the selection of Messer as the new police chief was a difficult decision because there were three highly qualified applicants for the position.
“They were all top-notch, but Keith just had a little more presence, a little more diligence and stood out just a little more,” Ochs said.
Ochs added that Messer has been with NVPD for 18 years and has served in a variety of capacities such as a weapons range and field training officer.
“I’ve ridden with Keith and observed his reactions in some really difficult situations. He knows how to handle a bad situation. He doesn’t get shook,” Ochs said. “When things are happening quickly, he stays calm and thinks and reacts just as quickly.
“In addition, as the NVPD lieutenant, he has worked next to chief Webster — who is the most organized person I have ever met. I am sure (Messer) has learned much about the administrative part of the chief’s job.”
The son of Keith and Brenda Messer, Keith grew up in Westport. He graduated from South Decatur and then graduated from Ivy Tech College.
Having always been interested in police work, Messer served as a reserve officer and then joined the NVPD in 2003 as a full-time officer. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2009 and was named as lieutenant in 2018.
“Being a police officer is a true calling,” Messer said. “It’s truly a calling to help others but it can take a toll. Policemen and policewomen see things on a day-to-day basis that most people never experience; things like violent death, child abuse, suicide, car crashes and other very disturbing things.”
Messer said he has the utmost respect for Webster, and that he plans on expanding many of the programs that the former police chief started.
“We already have yearly physical check-ups, but eventually I would like to expand the physical check-ups to include annual mental health check-ups. I want our officers to head into retirement in both good physical and good mental health,” Messer said. “Another goal will be to sustain our good retention rate while developing programs that will reach out to recruit more minorities and females for the department.”
Messer and his wife Natalie reside in Jennings County with their sons Wyatt and Sabin.
“I have always considered being a part of the NVPD to be a great honor and working closely with chief Webster has been a tremendous experience,” Messer said. “I know I have big shoes to fill.”
