By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — A concern related to officers’ pensions was brought up at the Wednesday, Oct. 12, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Merit Board meeting.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office 1st Sgt. Chris McKeand mentioned the issue.

“We had an incident earlier this week where the widow of a deceased officer (retired KCSO Sgt. Don McCune)” was trying to obtain his pension benefits, he said. “I guess my biggest thing is, who do we contact? … Because when they called down there, they basically got told that they hadn’t had record of that individual for 15 years. … Is there a correct path for us to lead people on for us to at least know who to contact?”

“The second part of that … is they pointed them toward the bank. Is the bank the correct place to call?” continued McKeand.

“Stan Brown (whose company McCready and Keene works with the KCSO pensions) was notified and he is getting everything set up and he sends emails to the bank for the payment,” said KCSO Chief Deputy Shane Bucher.

McKeand said he understood that the matter had since been resolved, but he wished that there was a more “clear path” regarding helping beneficiaries of deceased officers.

“We’ll get ahold of Stan Brown and figure out exactly what the right path is,” said Board Secretary Tony Garza.

“Maybe there’s a more direct number we can put on the statement (for officers’ benefits),” said Board Member Travis McConnell.

Board Member Alan Alderfer added that those with questions would be welcome to contact any of the merit board’s members.

“Again I’ve worked with that before, if you need that, you can always call me and then we’ll make sure that it gets to the right place,” said Alderfer.

Hochstetler Benefit

The board also heard from Bucher that the KCSO was helping with a benefit for Katie Hochstetler, wife of KCSO Deputy Andrew Hochstetler.

She was diagnosed with Stage 4B cancer earlier this year.

The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 149 is hosting the tailgate-themed fundraiser party Huddle Up For the Hochstetlers at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, at The Owl’s Nest in North Webster.

There will be a live auction and raffle drawing on that date, with prizes including a boat and $25,000 cash. People are welcome to donate or purchase raffle tickets.

For more information, people may contact Kosciusko County Jail Chemical Addiction Program Coordinator Courtney Jenkins at (574) 377-7043. Funds may be sent to FOP Lodge No. 149, P.O. Box 832, Warsaw, IN 46581, with the memo line Huddle Up. Payments may also be sent using Venmo via @FOP149 noting they’re for “Huddle Up.”

In other matters, the board:

• Heard from Bucher that there were currently 247 inmates in the jail. There were also 70 people participating in Work Release.
• Heard from Bucher that the next Kosciusko County Jail Chemical Addiction Program class will graduate at 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10.
• Heard from Bucher that “the jail is at full staff currently, but we do have one officer who is leaving at the end of the month for the Warsaw PD.”
• Heard from Kosciusko County Administrator Marsha McSherry an update on the county’s public safety communications tower project. “They were testing last week,” she said. “They’re testing this week. Friday, they’ll be driving around and doing testing of identified trouble areas, and if all goes well … we may be signing off on the system at the end of the day on Friday.”
• Heard from KCSO Det. Sgt. James Marshall that the Indiana Department of Transportation had given the KCSO 600 bike helmets, which the office is working on distributing to kids in the county.
• Heard from Bucher that the KCSO received a $20,000 grant from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation for equipment for the office’s dive team.