Dukes Praises Success Of NET 43, Jail Commander
WARSAW — Kosciusko County Sheriff Kyle Dukes provided a 2019 year-end statistics report at the Kosciusko County Council meeting Thursday, March 12.
Dukes first talked about the success of NET 43.
“One hundred and twenty-eight case reports, 142 people incarcerated, 28 search warrants, 18 times I used the SWAT team for NET 43 investigations, the pounds and pounds of drugs we took off the streets in Kosciusko County — it was a heck of a year,” Dukes said.
“I’m extremely proud of those men and the teamwork we have built, the administration side and I also want to thank (County Prosecutor) Dan Hampton for all his work toward the success of NET 43.”
Dukes said another area he is most proud of is the jail.
“As of two hours ago, we had exactly 255 people incarcerated,” Dukes said. “I inherited a jail with 334 people.”
Dukes said the working relationships with probation, community corrections and the prosecutor’s office have helped and taking people to prison who have committed violent felonies in Kosciusko County “was huge.”
“I made that decision and at times we took buses of people down,” Dukes said. “We are not a holding facility for free, so if you committed a violent crime in Kosciusko County then you need to go to prison and that’s where you are and that’s where we took you.”
As far as Criminal Rule 26 – the new state policy that allows jails to release non-violent offenders on their own recognizance while awaiting trial – Dukes said it’s too early to determine if it’s good or bad.
“I can say this — when Rule 26 went into effect, I had 263 people, so as far as reducing our jail population, I do not give that hardly any credit at all.”
Credit, in part, goes to Jail Commander Shane Coney, Dukes said, for taking a proactive approach in bringing the jail population number down.
“Jails are tough to run, there’s a lot of stress with inmates and everything that goes along with that,” Dukes said. “I will stand my ground by saying I have one of the best jail commanders in the state of Indiana.”
Dukes and Hampton then requested approval for a memorandum of understanding between the prosecutor’s office and the county jail. The departments have agreed for KCSO Deputy Chris McKeand to be permanently assigned as an investigator to the prosecuting attorney’s office.
Hampton said the move is to replace Sam Whitaker, who retired from the prosecuting attorney’s office in December. Hampton said McKeand will continue in his current rank and employment with the sheriff’s office but will perform full-time prosecuting investigator’s tasks. This was approved by council.
County Commissioner Cary Groninger asked council members to sign a letter of commitment to financially support the radio communication towers project. Groninger said the project would cost roughly $3.7 million dollars and will be done over the course of about two years.
“The city of Warsaw has made a substantial commitment, as much as $500,000 toward the project,” Groninger said. “We’re going to look at what other grants and foundations we do have to see if there’s some other opportunity.”
Groninger said there will be three “mega sites” with large towers and generators added once the project is complete.
“Our hope with this is that we can use some of this as maybe the backbone for broadband,” Groninger said.
Emergency Management Director Ed Rock received approval to apply for a $214,000 grant related to the hardening of critical infrastructure. Rock said the project they are looking at is hardening the entrance and better protection for the officers at the county Justice Building.
The walkthrough scanner needs upgraded, Rock said, and a piece of the equipment used to scan and check bags needs to be replaced.
In other news:
- Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Michael Reed received approval to apply for a Justice Partner Addictions Response grant through the Supreme Court in 2019 in the amount of $60,000.
- Jim Haney was appointed to serve another four-year term on the Lakeland Regional Sewer District board.
- Council members agreed to begin holding county council meetings at 6 p.m. moving forward.
- The next regular meeting will be at 6 p.m. April 9.