The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Merit Board approved promoting four deputies, Kyle Denton, Justin Smith, Lou Mediano and Andrew Hochstetler, to corporals at its meeting on Thursday, April 13. From left: Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Commander Lt. Mike Mulligan; Mediano; Justin Smith; Kosciusko County Sheriff Jim Smith; Hochstetler; and Denton. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Four Kosciusko County Sheriff’s deputies have been promoted to corporals.

At its meeting on Thursday, April 13, the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Merit Board approved giving Kyle Denton, Justin Smith, Lou Mediano and Andrew Hochstetler the new ranks.

According to information from the KCSO, Denton works as a K9 handler and field training officer and patrols on night shift. He’s spent five years with the office, having previously worked for the Syracuse Police Department for five years, three full time and the rest as a reserve.

Smith patrols on day shift, having been with the KCSO for six years. He worked at the Kosciusko County Jail for three and a half years, getting promoted to corporal and then sergeant. He works for the fatal crash team and as a reserve deputy coordinator and field training officer.

Mediano is a day-shift patrolman, a K9 handler and field training officer and involved with SWAT. He’s been with the KCSO for six years, having been Claypool Police Chief for eight years and Ligonier Police Department reserve officer for seven years previously.

Hochstetler has been a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s deputy for three years, working on the night shift. He’s a field training officer and SWAT member.

In other business, the board:

• Heard from Kosciusko County Sheriff Jim Smith the Kosciusko County Jail’s new drug-detecting dog Buck has arrived and is being trained. He will also be used at Kosciusko County Work Release, said Jim Smith.
• Heard from Jim Smith the jail staff’s body cameras should “be in by the end of this month.”
• Saw Tony Garza return to the board. He replaces Travis McConnell, with Garza and Alan Alderfer recently voted on to the board by Kosciusko County Sheriff’s deputies at their meeting.