In this InkFreeNews file photo from August 2021, Lucas Rhodes, on the left, is seen being sworn in as a reserve officer for the Pierceton Police Department by Town Attorney Tammy Keirn. Rhodes was hired at Monday, April 11’s Pierceton Town Council meeting as a part-time officer for the PPD.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

PIERCETON — Pierceton has hired a new part-time police officer.

At its meeting on Monday, April 11, the Pierceton Town Council approved the hiring of Lucas Rhodes.

Rhodes, who previously was a reserve officer for the Pierceton Police Department, is helping fill the spot vacated by full-time officer Ryan Piper, who took a job with the Warsaw Police Department in December.

Pierceton Police Chief Tim Sammons said Rhodes is to work for approximately a year before he enters the U.S. Air Force in spring 2023.

The council approved hiring him at $20 an hour.

Body cameras

The council also heard from Sammons that the PPD is getting the full amount it requested through an Indiana Department of Homeland Security grant for new body cameras for officers.

The total grant is $1,500, with Pierceton needing to contribute $300 for it.

No chickens

The council also heard from resident Simon Dezelski.

Someone complained to town leaders about his having chickens within town limits.

“I think it’s a really great way to produce some fresh food in my backyard,” said Dezelski.

Town Council President Mandy Espinoza noted the town had recently had a similar issue not too long ago with people keeping goats inside Pierceton town limits. The town’s current ordinance prohibits farm animals from being in town.

Both Espinoza and Town Council Vice President Matt Brubaker voiced support for sticking with the town’s ordinance. (Town Council Member Tom Barker was absent from the meeting.)

Dezelski asked how long he had to get rid of his chickens. Espinoza and Brubaker asked that he get rid of them by the council’s next meeting date of Monday, May 9.

In other business, the council:

• Heard Espinoza read a proclamation declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Pierceton. Angie Ritchey, Crystal Creekmore and Brian Erne of Kosciusko County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) were present for the proclamation. To learn more about how CASA works to protect children in the county, people should go to casachildren.com.
• Approved Fleis & Vandenbrink as the new engineering firm for the town. Fleis & Vandenbrink replaces the town’s previous firm, GRW, which town leaders believed wasn’t providing quality service for Pierceton.
• Approved annual tax abatement renewals for Pierceton 23 LLC, Paragon Medical, Aludyne and Midwest Roll Forming or OMCO.
• Approved hiring James Ault as a part-time worker for the town for the summer at $15 an hour.
• Approved a request from Town Superintendent Casey Boggs to purchase a desktop computer as the only computer he has for work is more than a nine-year-old laptop. The council allowed him to spend up to $1,000 on one.

The council’s next meeting is 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 9, at the Pierceton Community Building.

Representatives from Kosciusko County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) were present at Monday’s meeting to hear Town Council President Mandy Espinoza read a proclamation declaring April Child Abuse Prevention Month in town. From left: Town Council Vice President Matt Brubaker, CASA’s Brian Erne, Crystal Creekmore and Angie Ritchey, and Espinoza. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.