Next Community Conversation program to feature State Police PIO Matt Ames

A new face has appeared in the Putnam County area. Sgt. Matt Ames was recently promoted to Putnamville District public information officer (PIO) for the Indiana State Police. He will be speaking at the next Community Conversation on Thursday, March 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Greencastle Ivy Tech Campus, Room 212.

Sgt. Ames received a bachelor's degree in criminology from Indiana State University in 1993 and graduated from the Indiana State Police Academy in December 1995. As a member of the Indiana State Police he has served in Lafayette and Terre Haute and with the Commercial Motor Vehicle Division.

As a 20-year veteran of the Indiana National Guard he received a Bronze Star in 2007 while deployed in Iraq and was recognized as being Soldier of the Year for the Indiana National Guard in 1993.

In his new duties as the Putnamville PIO, Sgt. Ames will coordinate public education programs and serve as the department's news media liaison on public safety, crime prevention and law enforcement public interest issues. He will also be presenting public safety and information programs to community and service organizations.

"I'm very excited about my new position with the Indiana State Police and promoting the great police work and community service that the Putnamville troopers provide to the public," Ames has said.

The Community Conversation Series is sponsored by the Greencastle League of Women Voters, the Putnam County Public Library and the Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce. The goal of this continuing program is to provide the community an opportunity to hear from and speak to their elected and appointed government officials.

The program is free and open to the public. The Greencastle Ivy Tech campus is located at 915 Zinc Mill Rd.