By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Merit Board has approved plans to shorten the probationary period for new officers.

At its meeting on Wednesday, March 10, the board approved the change. It shortens the period from one year to six months for those who have previously worked for other police agencies, known as laterals, if their superiors grant it. The officers must have already attended a certified police academy.

Sheriff Kyle Dukes requested the change.

“What we’re finding is that … the year is too long for a lateral and that everybody that has lateraled over here and we’ve hired has taken a pay cut,” said Dukes. “So my request to the merit board is … to have a six-month probationary review and sit down and if he or she is ready to go in the six months, then to release the probationary status off him or her.”

“Another thing too is to get him or her off probationary status and full time is a little pay raise and it is a thank you,” said Dukes. “Deputy (Stephen) Watkins moved his family from New York to take this job at a pay cut. Mr. (Sam) Weaver came over here, pay cut.”

Board Member Travis McConnell did voice concerns about criteria for the amended policy.

“How’s that going to work as far as (officers saying) ‘Well, everybody else got it except for me?'” said McConnell. “I mean I’m sure you’ll have good reasons but should there be more of a ‘Well, here’s the criteria’ sort of thing as opposed to just discretionary?”

“My thinking is on this one is that the immediate supervisor would be the road sergeant and then Sgt. (Kreg) Kuhn is also in charge of the field training operations here,” said Dukes. “So to have those two people sign off along with my or the sheriff’s signature, I think that those three tells the whole story.”

“We really looked at, is six months long enough, is it too long? And we feel that six months gets he or she enough time and it gives us enough time to evaluate and say yes, he or she is ready,” continued Dukes.

“I’ll just throw in, I don’t know of any other company that doesn’t consider prior experience in their compensation,” added Board President Ron Truex.

Detective Sgt. James Marshall added that discretion is the measurement already for officers having their probationary period extended.

“We have had in the past officers have their probationary period extended because of something that is seen or happened,” said Marshall. “If we have the ability to do that, to extend the probationary period, I think … those people should also be able to shorten (the period).”

The board ultimately approved it.

In other business, the board:

• Heard from Senior Detective Sgt. Josh Spangle that a deputy has been doing detective training.
• Heard from Detective Sgt. Neil Likens that the office is getting cellphone software to help in investigations. After officers have legally obtained the right to search, they can use the software to help track where a suspect has been using cellphone towers. There are other ways other than the software to do that, but this particular technology streamlines the process.