Sheriff's debate brings out big crowd at DPU Media Center

Friday, May 2, 2014

With less than a week to go until the May 6 primary election, the three Republican candidates for Putnam County sheriff squared off before a standing-room-only audience of more than 100 people in Watson Forum of the DePauw University Media Center.

Awaiting their spots at the three podiums for Wednesday night's Putnam County sheriff's candidate debate at Watson Forum of the DePauw University Center for Contemporary Media are (from left) Sgt. Craig Sibbitt, incumbent Sheriff Steve Fenwick and Indiana State Police 1st Sgt. Scott Stockton.

Sponsored by the DePauw Political Science Department, incumbent Sheriff Steve Fenwick, Putnam Sheriff's Department Sgt. Craig Sibbitt and Indiana State Police 1st Sgt. Scott Stockton fielded questions from panelists Bruce Stinebrickner and Brett O'Bannon of the DPU Political Science Department and Doug Cox, DPU director of public safety.

There is no Democrat candidate for sheriff on the primary ballot.

Throughout the debate, the first hour of which was broadcast live on the Greencastle cable access channel (and will be repeated at 8 p.m. Friday and nightly through Monday), the three candidates forged themes that continued throughout the more than two-hour program.

Sheriff Fenwick said his 32 years of experience in the department "speaks for itself," including a spotless record as jail commander with A+ inspections and no lawsuits, suggesting that save for the actions of one single officer, the management and procedures in place in the department have been effective.

As sheriff, he said he manages 20 officers and acknowledged "there's a problem sometimes." Fenwick also pointed out that he is the first Putnam County sheriff to suspend deputies, noting that over his tenure, he has put six on probation.

Sgt. Sibbitt, with experience going on 12 years at the jail and as a deputy, stressed the need for accountability by everyone in the department, adding "I know what the problems are, and I believe I can fix them."

Sibbitt offered one simple way to achieve that accountability. "If your camera's not rolling, you're not rolling," he said advocating the creation of a video record of all police stops through mandatory use of in-car cameras.

Meanwhile, 1st Sgt. Stockton, a member of the State Police in numerous investigative capacities for more than 27 years, spoke to a theme of change and the need for better discipline and management within the Sheriff's Department.

Calling himself "an outsider" in his attempt to win election and lead a department that is "steadfast in promoting from within," Stockton said, "I really believe in my heart that there needs to be a change this time."

None of the candidates agreed with recent comment by U.S. Attorney Joseph Hogsett that the recent indictments of a deputy and a reserve deputy should suggest a "culture of corruption" has been created.

"I don't think it's a culture," Sibbitt said, suggesting that nonetheless the department must "get the trust of the people back."

"Every officer needs to be accountable," he stressed. "We've got to treat people like we want to be treated."

Discipline is key, Stockton said, "to correcting inappropriate behavior."

"When you hold people to a standard and review them, it's going to stop," he said, adding that better hiring practices and accountability can change the culture. "Verizon friends and family hiring is not working," he added.

Fenwick stressed that problems that brought about the Hogsett comment "basically is all on one individual officer."

"Mr. Hogsett's wrong," the incumbent sheriff of the past 5-1/2 years stressed. "I disagree with him totally."

Panelist O'Bannon asked the three Republican hopefuls what they see as priorities for the position.

"My biggest concern," said Sibbitt, answering first, "is getting the trust back. I believe we've lost that."

He also believes it is important to have a drug task force in place 24/7. "We've got to get the drugs stopped," the veteran deputy added.

Sheriff Fenwick, meanwhile, noted that his department tackles 13,000 calls annually while patrolling one of Indiana's largest counties by area (15th overall at 30 miles long and 20 miles wide), which makes it difficult to address much more than what is being dispatched, he said.

With three or four officers typically on duty over the entire county, Fenwick said he encourages deputies to "keep hitting it" as those 911 dispatches come in.

"I'm not out there every night with those guys," he said, indicating it can be difficult to address any problems "unless you know about them."

Beyond the independent actions of one officer, "right or wrong," Fenwick said, the majority of his department efforts would be "status quo."

Stockton, meanwhile, indicated his priority effort would be "a collage of things."

Among those, he said, are attention to "burglaries, meth and prescription drug use" within the county.

"We need to continue to educate the kids (about drug issues)," he added.

In their closing statements, the three GOP candidates went back to their basic themes.

Sibbitt said he was the only one of the three running "for the right reason" and not for power or political gain or because it is a lifelong dream.

"I'm doing it for you," he told the audience, adding that fellow officers and law enforcement personnel from other departments urged him to run for sheriff "because we need a change."

Meanwhile, Sheriff Fenwick suggested the job is a difficult one and certainly harder than it looks as he repeated part of a conversation he had with former Sheriff Gerry Hoffa.

"They've all got all the answers until they sit in the big chair," Hoffa reportedly told him.

In making his closing remarks, Fenwick added, "I know for sure I'm the one to continue to do the work needed there."

Stockton again stressed "getting the respect of the community back" by better management and accountability through better discipline.

"What's happened to this community," he said, is directly related to the "acts of independent individuals and should be addressed accordingly."