Rager Is Fourth Candidate For Sheriff
KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Chris Rager, a lifelong Kosciusko County resident and member of the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, is the fourth person to announce his candidacy for the sheriff’s race in the May primary.
“Win or lose, I’m going to make whomever wins, earn it. I want them to make sure they want to have the job that they are going after,” said Rager. “I want them (fellow deputies) to have the best boss they can get … who will stand up for them, have their back.”
Rager unofficially put his name into the ring following the caucus, which elected Rocky Goshert as sheriff, who had been stating he was retiring in 1 1/2 years. Having already begun his campaign, when Goshert announced his candidacy Tuesday, Nov. 14, Rager decided to continue to seek the nomination.
He noted the sheriff’s department has a black mark since the indictment against Aaron Rovenstine, former sheriff. “Some of the job in the campaign will be rebuilding that trust lost in the community. It has to be rebuilt … coverage that the sheriff’s road officers offered never failed, never wavered or fell off … We need to start earning trust back from the community and it’s easy to do if we’re professional, treat people nice and take their calls as seriously as we can.”
Rager wants to continue educating kids, as fifth-graders and in middle school, about drugs, particularly the heroin and opioid abuse, along with bullying, self esteem and accountability. “There’s no solution, (to the opioid crisis) but we can slow it down through education,” he said. “The easiest thing for the sheriff’s department to do is get them in jail, provide education and a treatment program while there.”
Rager is a 1991 graduate of Warsaw Community High School and joined the U.S. Army in 1993. He was chosen as the honor graduate of basic training with the 3rd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Division, at Fort Benning, Ga. He then began supervising troops, learning the importance of teamwork and mission completion. He served in South Korea from 1993-94 returning to Fort Benning, Ga., where he participated in several deployments and exercises including an overseas deployment to Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Vigilant Warrior. He has received the Army Achievement Medal for meritorious service and Army Commendation Medal for outstanding service and dedication to duty. He was honorably discharged in 1995 and completed his service to his country in January 2001.
He has been in law enforcement since 1998, beginning his career with the North Webster Police Department. In 2000 he joined the sheriff’s department and served as the first school resource officer for Wawasee Community School Corp. He also served as the sheriff’s department DARE officer for 10 years. He has spoken to many groups on various topics from the heroin epidemic to personal safety and active shooter response.
Rager has been a road deputy and currently is assigned to the detective division and the drug task force. He has been a member of the county SWAT team for 14 years.
He has dedicated his career to helping youth. He has served as counselor for the Indiana Sheriff’s Association Sheriff’s Camp for 19 years and at Conservation Camp at Camp Mollenhour for 15 years.
He is a member of Warsaw Community Grace Brethren Church where he serves on the deacon board, head usher and leader of the church security team. He also teaches 3-6 year old children Wednesday evenings.
He and his wife, Stephanie, have been married for 22 years and have four children: Cassandra, who died at birth; Stone, 19; Payne, 16; and Cash, 7.