Chad Hill

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Chad Hill, former public relations officer with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, has entered a pre-trial diversion agreement on the charges of theft, a class A misdemeanor. Hill, 50, Larwill, was charged with theft, a class A misdemeanor earlier this month following an investigation by Special Prosecutor Eric D. Blackman, prosecutor from Noble County.

The diversion agreement, signed by Hill, his attorney Anthony Churchward, and Blackman, agrees charges against Hill will be dismissed in one year if Hill complies with the terms.

Those terms are Hill pays fees and court costs of $454 plus any other fees or court costs prior to the term of the agreement, not violate any federal or state criminal laws, pay restitution of $539.82 to the Noble County Prosecutor’s Office via money order payable to the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, and he voluntarily give up his law enforcement certification through the Indiana Law Enforcement training board, and not seek employment as a law enforcement officer in the state of Indiana or any other jurisdiction.

Should Hill violate any of the terms of the diversion agreement, the state will be entitled to proceed with the prosecution of the charge.

Hill retired July 19, 2017, after 27 years with the department.

Blackman was appointed as a special prosecutor in the case Aug. 29 after an internal investigation was launched. It was during that internal investigation on or about June 19, the sheriff’s department learned department equipment was given to a civilian outside of employment with the county.

Documents show information was gained during a conversation with Hill about a video sent to an employee in the prosecutor’s office involving sexual conduct between Hill and another female. Hill had contacted Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Capt. Chris McKeand to inform him the video was sent and it was during that conversation Hill asked if a phone, a jet pack and a tablet were returned to the department by the female. McKeand noted in the report this was the first mention of the jet pack during conversations with either person involved.

Shortly after learning of the videos, the female began to make contact about the investigation. During a statement to police the female stated Hill had provided her a Verizon wireless jet pack for use starting in January 2017, and she had continued to use it until on or about July 2018. She also told police she believed Hill was personally paying for the use of the device. She was able to provide police with information from that device as well as photographs.

Once the jet pack was confirmed as being on the county’s wireless internet, account service was suspended. It is noted the service for the jetpack cost was $29.99 a month and for the 18-month pace of use the cost is $539.82. The device was a free account device and did not incur any activation costs.

After his retirement, Hill was named school resource officer for Whitko Community School Corporation through the South Whitley Police Department. However, he resigned July 24, 2018, after the female posted on social media a photograph allegedly taken by Hill, in which he appeared nude from the waist down. The female who made the Facebook post stated “I had a tough conversation with my 6-year-old daughter. I told her if she saw Chad Hill in uniform, do not talk to him. Previously, if she saw an officer she would run up to him with open arms. I told her, if he talks to you, run to mommy or daddy. He is a liar and should not be in a police uniform. This is a devastating conversation to have with your child. I pray for his family, but I’m thankful I can finally have some closure in this matter … .”

The female continued by stating, “I never told my daughter what he did, just that he was a bad person.” The female further stressed the social media post was not about retaliation. In her words, “he did way worse than just the picture” and it was about “keeping a pervert out of schools.”