Q: A 40 percent increase in the Bartholomew County local income tax has generated new revenues for county and municipal governments. What sheriff’s department program needs should get the highest priority when budget decisions are made to allocate new revenues?
A: Funds going to the sheriff’s office should be distributed in a manner with direct and immediate impact on improving public safety. Increasing the number of deputies would increase overall enforcement efforts, reduce illegal drugs coming into our county and increase neighborhood and school patrols and other areas of concern.
Q: There have been increasing instances of female Bartholomew County Jail inmates who are concealing drugs in body cavities to sneak contraband into the jail. What screening steps can and should be taken to reduce this activity?
A: Steps can be taken during intake, including strip searches, that reveal contraband. Should a jail staff member have probable cause to believe contraband has been concealed, professional medical personnel should recover it. Charges should be filed in every case. A written policy and procedure should be followed in every instance.
Q: Since the fatal school shooting in Florida and subsequent threats reported at schools in Bartholomew County, the sheriff’s department and other local police have spent more time checking in at schools across the county during school hours. Should that daily effort continue, or does that leave other enforcement areas at risk?
A: During school hours, deputies should maintain a reasonable level of visibility around county schools, while available to respond to other calls. Administrative staff should provide necessary patrol coverage in other areas. I will encourage BCSC to expand its school resource officer program to include a deputy.
Q: What would you do to bring more females and minorities into the ranks of deputies, jail personnel and administrators?
A: The sheriff has a duty to all county residents to attract, appoint and promote the best and the brightest. The most effective way to ensure equitable representation of all groups is to implement a standardized and continuous recruitment, training and career development program.
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Name: Rob Kittle
Political party: Republican
Age: 59
City of residence: Columbus
Occupation: Self-employed, property management
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Indiana University, 1981; Certificate of Forensic Studies, Indiana University, 1981
Previous offices held: Columbus City Council, 2000-03, 2004-07; Bartholomew County Council, 2011-14
Previous offices sought: Columbus City Council, Bartholomew County Council
Community involvement: Bartholomew County Public Defender Commission, Indiana Department of Homeland Security Foundation
Immediate family: Wife, Jo Anna Kittle, three adult daughters
