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Bunten promotion bumps GPD up to three detectives
With criminal cases increasing in Greencastle, Police Chief Chris Jones is taking a proactive approach, shuffling his personnel a bit and adding a third detective to City Police ranks.
Veteran Officer Darrel Bunten, with more than 16 years experience with GPD and “hundreds of investigations” to his credit, was approved Wednesday afternoon by the Board of Public Works and Safety for a promotion to detective. He joins Det. Capt. Michael Collins and Det. Sgt. Matt Huffman as city detectives.
“Numbers are up,” Chief Jones advised Board of Works members Mayor Bill Dory and Craig Tuggle, while reporting 65 more criminal cases occurring this year than there were at this point in 2022.
“A few years ago when I was day shift captain, we were noting the need for another detective,” Jones added. “Generally we’d have about 200 cases a year for two guys to work. They were lucky if they’d get two full days on a case.”
Having an extra officer on day shift, Jones reasoned that person would be better utilized as an investigative officer than a patrolman, while GPD would still have full patrolling staff available on all three shifts.
In March, Chief Jones posted the detective position, making it available to any non-probationary patrolman. Three patrol officers applied with Luke Brown and Jared McDaniel joining Bunten in the quest for the position.
Based on evaluation of the officers’ experience and individual interviews, Bunten was recommended to the Board of Works.
Jones noted that Bunten “has conducted hundreds of investigations during his career, which included preparing arrest affidavits, subpoenas and search warrants.”
The new position will be effective Saturday with the start of a new pay period.
Mayor Dory noted that Det. Bunten should be aware that if personnel levels dictate it, he can still be called upon to patrol.
“We expect Chris to report on your success stories,” the mayor told Bunten.
“That’s the goal,” Bunten replied.
In a brief ceremony at City Hall, Chief Jones produced a new detective’s badge on a chain that Bunten’s wife Jamie placed around his neck and sealed the promotion with a kiss.
In other action, the Board of Works:
-- Approved the sub-recipient agreement on a Putnam County Housing and Infrastructure Study. The $150,000 grant from the state will flow through the city with both Greencastle and Putnam County committing $25,000 to the countywide study. The strategic plan will help identify priority sites for development and evaluate infrastructure conditions and needs. Areas of focus would include housing for families in and around Greencastle as well as urban/downtown housing to support DePauw University. While there has been significant investment to support housing in rural areas such as Heritage Lake, there are few developable sites in and around the county’s cities and towns that have infrastructure. A plan is needed to quantify housing demand in the county and develop a strategy for making infrastructure investment to support the needed housing.
-- Approved receipt of a $1 million Community Crossing grants from the State of Indiana and authorized the mayor to sign the grant agreement.
-- Awarded a $449,105 contract to TSW Utility Solutions, Indianapolis, to rebuild the Sherwood lift station and construction a new force main in a project that Utilities Superintendent Oscar King Jr. said was on a five-year list for replacement 30 years ago.
-- On a motion by board member Trudy Selvia, who arrived late to the meeting, approved the purchase of $382,113 in fire hydrants and necessary parts from Utility Supply Co., Indianapolis. The project involves 49 hydrants outside city limits, replacement of 15 within the city and the addition of 13 hydrants within the city. The equipment is expected to be received by Aug. 1. Installation work will have to go out for bids.
-- Heard Mayor Dory report on easements relative to the pending fire hydrant work. He said 19 easements are already listed on the plat, while seven property owners are willing to donate easement rights and seven more are unwilling to donate the easement on their property. Sixteen have failed to return the form requesting donation of easements.
-- Heard the mayor report that there were no bidders for the planned city sidewalk project although multiple bidders had been contacted.
-- Took action to reduce construction fines incurred by Rob Mink at his 20 Cherrywood Ct. residence in Woods Edge to $100. Mink had been fined $700 by City Building Inspector Pat Thibodeau for violations including no demolition or building permits and an ordinance violation for burning treated lumber. “I think we’re being very generous,” Mayor Dory told Mink in regard to the reduction in fines. “Hopefully you will properly follow the rules as we move forward.” The mayor said the city staff is always happy to answer property owners’ questions about permit needs.
The next regular session of the Board of Works is scheduled for Wednesday, June 21 at City Hall.