Ripley Co. Sheriff: Blame The Commissioners

By Mike Perleberg

Sheriff Tom Grills

file photo

(Versailles, Ind.) - Citing a new vehicle police and staffing, Ripley County’s sheriff is directing citizens concerns over slow responses and handling of investigations to the county commissioners.

In an email to area media Tuesday, Sheriff Tom Grills said for the first nine months of 2013, his office has had a 15 percent increase in case reports compared to the same time period last year. According to Grills, the office had a 22 percent increase in cases in April, 33 percent in May, and 24 percent in August. June and July were slightly less percentages.

Grills said the increase has put a strain on his office, magnified by two decisions earlier this year by Ripley County Commissioners. Grills said the commissioners demanded personal use of the county police cars be stopped, requiring more time to respond to calls. The new policy has not led to a significant decrease in fuel consumption – last year saw an average of 1,872 gallons of fuel each month, compared to 1,802 on average per month this year.

The sheriff said he believes the commissioners’ policy is increasing response time. It has also raised safety issues.

“A couple weeks ago I was almost ran over a couple times on U.S. 50 at a crash that I was almost part of,” Grills said in his email. “I swerved out of the way, but the pickup truck wasn’t so lucky that was hit by the semi. I stopped to assist in my personal vehicle. No radio, no emergency lights, no federally required reflective traffic vest officers are suppose to wear, and the female driving the truck argued with me when I told her to move her vehicle out of the road before there was another crash because she didn't believe who I was.”

“This was a serious issue that could have been avoided very easily,” he wrote.

Grills said he explained such a scenario to Commissioners in March. He accuses them of not caring and being too consumed with cost concerns.

“What’s the point in having a police car if they want me to haul all my equipment around in my private vehicle off duty like they asked?” the sheriff said, adding officers are less likely to get involved when they are off duty if they do not have the right equipment in a dangerous situation.

“I tried to explain to the Commissioners what the ramification would be for this change, that it wouldn’t save the county a huge sum of money, and this is proof. They want to blame it on the insurance policy and carrier, or liability. I have even requested a copy of the policy on numerous occasions to corroborate their statement, but have yet to receive it.”

Staffing is also an issue, Grills claimed. The Ripley County Sheriff’s Office is tasked not only with patrolling local roads – he said the Indiana State Police does not provide 24/7 road coverage – but also responsible for serving two courts, transporting inmates, assisting the probation department, and patrolling towns like Versailles and Osgood when local law enforcement is not on duty. Also, the sheriff’s office is dealing with a jail housing over 100 inmates, according to the email.

Grills said if citizens don’t feel the sheriff’s department is handling their case or issue properly or taking too long, they should call Ripley County Commissioners.

“My office and myself are doing all we can within our limits, but our caseload is increasing and staffing is not. Please be patient with us,” the sheriff said.

John Ertel, the county attorney advising the commissioners, stated that he believes Grills’ email is simply an opinion until there are facts showing a direct correlation between an increase in crime and the county’s personal vehicle use policy.

“The sheriff is entitled to his opinion,” Ertel said.

Ripley County Commissioner Gerry Stutler responded Thursday morning.

Stutler said the county commissioners adopted the policy regarding private use of county vehicles because the county’s insurer recommended it. Also, Stutler reasoned, deputies during their time off were using county sheriff’s cruisers to escort an oil company’s vehicles around the county.

Regarding the sheriff’s near-accident on U.S. 50, which Grills referenced in the email, Stutler said it was not a true statement and it was no fault of the county’s if the sheriff was almost run over.

“How do we know he wasn’t going to a wedding, church, a funeral or something?” Stutler asked.

As far as staffing, Stutler said council approved funding for two new deputies last year, Stutler said. Stutler also said he wasn’t sure why Grills was criticizing commissioners for the supposed staffing problem when funding and budgets are set by county council.

The commissioner said Grills should attend commissioners’ twice-monthly meetings to air his concerns, but he typically does not appear.

“We don’t know what he wants or says unless he comes to meetings,” Stutler said. “Tell us and council.”

Eagle 99.3 emailed Commissioner Robert Reiners on Tuesday. Reiners replied that there was not enough time to give a qualified answer and the commissioners would like to confer with Eaton before giving an answer. The radio station’s message was not received until later due to a computer glitch, Reiners claimed.

Commissioner Mark Bushing did not reply to an email sent Wednesday.