Roachdale council talks new full-time police officer
ROACHDALE — With the town likely to see an increase in its annual budget in 2021, Roachdale Town Marshal Adrian Lepine is inquiring about the possibility of an additonal full-time officer.
The 2021 town budget is set to have an increase of $9,000, and Lepine has an idea of how the town can use the funds to keep the town safer.
Citing the ongoing methamphetamine problem in Putnam County, Lepine said adding another full-time officer to the force would allow them cover more of Roachdale in the hopes of benefitting the community. “Currently, we have 58 percent that we do not have covered due to the lack of officers who are not putting in the hours, but that is no fault of their own,” Lepine said.
On the staff currently is Marshall Lepine, a part-time deputy and four reserve officers who are to work a minimum 16 hours per month, but some don’t even “put in the hours because of their full-time duties,” according to Lepine.
Reserve Owen Richardson was acknowledged at Wednesday’s meeting as having put in more than 198 hours in the last month, receiving no payment for his time given.
“I have a master’s degree,” Richardson said, “but I don’t do this for fun or for the extra retirement money or as a hobby, I do this because I want to serve the community and to help make it better.”
In the past month, three drug busts have happened in Roachdale with stops made by Roachdale Police officers, but it’s not going to stop anytime soon.
“With Greencastle to the south and Crawfordsville to the north, dealers see this small town in the northeastern part of the county where they can come in and deal drugs, but we will not let that happen” Lepine told the Banner Graphic. “That’s why we want to bring on someone who is 100 percent dedicated to serving the community at large and making Roachdale a safer place to live and grow.”
According to Lepine, the talks of adding another officer to the force has only gone on for a month so far, but room has been made in the 2021 budget so all that is left is to begin the search for the right officer to serve Roachdale.
With pumpkins already appearing at Kroger and other places throughout Indiana, the night of Halloween was also discussed. Council member Rick Miles Jr. has asked residents of Roachdale how they feel about Halloween and allowing their kids to go trick-or-treating.
“There is a good mixture of those who will not be participating and some who will, but I don’t think it should be up to the Council to decide whether or not have trick-or-treating at all,” Miles said, adding “We should leave it up to the parents.”
Council Member Holly Cook echoed Miles’ words.
The Roachdale VFW has brought up the idea of having a trunk-or-treating event that night followed by the outdoor Halloween Costume contest at the end of the night. Roachdale Christian Church is looking to also have a trunk-or-treating event due to COVID-19 restrictions as well, but no updates were given.
The Council approved Halloween to continue as planned occurring from 6-8pm on Halloween, but the Putnam County Health Department has currently not said anything about restrictions due to the pandemic.
Town officials speculation the Health Department will make a statement regarding Halloween as the day gets closer.
The Council also named three individuals to the Park Board, with one position currently left open to be filled at a later date. The new members are are Joshua Renicker, Joshua Leon and Latisha Dennis.
The Individuals have been approved and named by the council and will be reached out by Cook in the coming days.