City Council OKs First Step to Close Rising Sun Police Department

Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 1:15 PM

The County will be the next to consider closing the RSPD and transferring all law enforcement duty to the Sheriff's Office.

Rising Sun City Council. Photo by Travis Thayer, Eagle Country 99.3.

(Rising Sun, Ind.) - Rising Sun City Council has voted to close the Rising Sun Police Department and transfer all law enforcement duties to the Ohio County Sheriff's Office.

At Thursday's council meeting, council first unanimously passed Resolution 2024-1, which approved entry into inter-local agreement.

Council then unanimously voted to approve a motion to approve an agreement for mutual aid and cooperation between the City of Rising Sun, Ohio County and the Ohio County Sheriff for public safety throughout Ohio County

"As the City is not required to operate a police department, the County, the Sheriff, and the City all believe that the most efficient manner that will provide the highest level of law enforcement protection to the citizens of Ohio County is for the Sheriff's Office to be the only law enforcement agency in the county," reads a portion of the resolution.

The agreement would be for the rest of this year and all of 2025 and 2026. At that point, if all is going well the agreement would automatically renew. However, the City or the County reserves the right to terminate the agreement with six months notice.

As the sole law enforcement entity, the City will provide the County with a portion of the funding necessary for the Sheriff to provide protection throughout all of Ohio County. The City shall pay the Ohio County Sheriff's Office $885,000 each year in two installments annually during the term of the agreement.

The Ohio County Sheriff's Office would be tasked with maintaining a police force of at least 12 deputies, and should the police force fall below that number, the Sheriff will promptly work to fill any openings to bring the total back to 12 or more.

Any employee of the Rising Sun Police Department that would like to be considered for a position with the Sheriff's Office will be afforded an interview by the Sheriff, who retains the authority to decide whether or not any RSPD officer or employee is hired by the Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Tom Baxter put all employment questions to bed on Thursday by saying all of those officers and staff have a job at the Sheriff's Office. That still brings his office two deputies short, although Sheriff Baxter said there has been plenty of interest including a verbal agreement from one individual.

All guns, supplies, and related police equipment currently in possession of the RSPD will be transferred to the Sheriff's Office. Any vehicle currently utilized by the RSPD that the Sheriff can utilize will be transferred by the City to the County.

As for the PD building, there is a clause in the agreement that allows the City to take back the building if a decision is made to re-establish the PD.

Discussions about closing the Rising Sun Police Department have been going on for years, according to Mayor Steve Slack. Discussions really came to a head due to minimal staff (down to three officers), which could be associated with the recent arrest of the former acting police chief and a host of retirements. "Since then, the department has lacked seasoned, experienced leadership," said Councilman Don Thomason.

"This idea is driven by the need for public safety. We feel this is the best direction," he added.

In regards to retired RSPD officers, council assured the public that there pensions will not be negatively impacted.

Sheriff Baxter on providing protection through transition

"The people of the town deserve to have police coverage, the people of the county deserve to have police coverage. There is not enough officers to cover Rising Sun 24 hours a day, so we've stepped up. There is coverage. You have my commitment to make this work and make it work properly."

Moving forward, the agreement will go to the County for review and vote on Monday, February 5. An official ordinance would be the third and final step. A special meeting has been scheduled for Monday, February 12 at 6:00 p.m.