As Candidate Filing Begins, Smith Takes Aim At Sheriff Dukes
By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews
WARSAW — Jim Smith isn’t wasting time.
Smith, a deputy with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, marked the start of the election filing period on Wednesday, Jan. 5, by signing paperwork and posing for a photo at the Justice Building before pointing out concerns with how his boss, Kyle Dukes, is running the department.
Jim Smith
Smith and Dukes will face each other – and possibly others – in the Republican primary in May. The filing deadline concludes on Feb. 4.
Dukes, a former state trooper, is in his first term as sheriff.
In a press release, Smith was critical of some jail conditions and the amount of Dukes’ compensation for his work.
Smith said he continues to hear concerns about drugs and vandalism inside the jail.
He specifically referenced the death of an inmate who died from an overdose nearly three years ago.
In that case, Dennis McCrory, 39, died of an overdose. Another inmate, Christopher Aaron Susaraba, was convicted in connection with his death.
“Who is running the jail, the inmates or the sheriff?” Smith asked in his news release.
As sheriff, Smith said he would establish policies and use equipment such as body scanners to detect drugs. He said he would also consider using drug-sniffing dogs and make sure staff is properly trained.
Kyle Dukes
He also attacked Dukes over the sheriff’s salary. Instead of signing a contract with the county, Dukes chose to use an alternative method in which the sheriff’s salary is based in part on the prosecutor’s salary. That resulted in a boost of more than $35,000 compared to the salary of his predecessor, Rocky Goshert. Dukes’ current salary to $164,950, according to Smith.
While there’s nothing improper about the change in how Duke is paid, Smith said it’s a matter of fiscal responsibility.
“Just because one can, doesn’t mean one should,” Smith said, adding that as sheriff, he plans to take a salary that is more in line with how sheriff’s salaries have been done in the past, “which is more fiscally responsible for the taxpayers of this county. He also plans to work within the approved budgets with minimal requests for additional appropriations.
If elected, Smith said he would take a salary that is more in line with previous administrations. He declined to say what that might be.
On Thursday, Dukes responded to some of Smith’s concerns.
Dukes said much of the damage was caused by inmates the county was holding for the state during covid and that those who caused the damage were criminally charged. He said he’s proud of the jail staff and pointed to some 2,000 hours of training among the two dozen jail staffers.
Dukes said the inmate held responsible for the overdose death arrived at the jail on a night when the body scanner was broken.
Dukes confirmed he used the alternative method in a formula laid out in a state statute.
He said he is proud of the department, his staff and the JCap program.
Smith was among eight candidates – all Republican – who formally filed paperwork on Wednesday at the Justice Building in Warsaw.
Others filing to run for elected office include:
- Tony Ciriello, candidate for county council district 3
- Scott Clay, candidate for county council district 3
- Bob Conley, candidate for southern district county commissioner
- Chasity Sandy, candidate for auditor
- Rhonda Helser, candidate for auditor
- Deb Wright, candidate for recorder
- Gail Chapman, candidate for assessor
