Kris Woodard, left, who retired 2 1/2 years ago as long time principal at North Webster Elementary, has been appointed as the new Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Matron. She is shown going over information with Sheriff Kyle Dukes.

WARSAW — It’s a new year with a new sheriff in Kosciusko County. Kyle Dukes, who officially took office Tuesday, hit the ground running Tuesday morning talking with all merit officers, office staff and jailers. “… The slate has been wiped clean. The past is over and done, let’s forget it and move forward,” said Dukes.

He stressed to the officers the sheriff’s office will work with all departments, share informations. “It’s time … the community is expecting us to do this.” He also assured residents the police vehicles will remain brown and officers will wear class A brown uniforms.

Dukes has made some changes in the sheriff’s office. The most noticeable is it will no longer be known as the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department. It will now be known as the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office. “We are our own entity. This is an elected office, an office is a separate deal and we’re going to treat it that way.”

Shane Bucher, who was detective sergeant with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, has been named chief deputy of the department. Shown Bucher is being congratulated by Sheriff Kyle Dukes.

Perhaps the biggest change, according to Dukes is what was known as the office of captain. That position will now be that of the chief deputy, which is being held by former Detective Sgt. Shane Bucher. Dukes put a lot of thought into the person who would fill this position. “I wanted somebody I could trust, somebody employed with the sheriff’s department who knew the inner workings and wasn’t afraid to work,” Dukes said. Noting he also wanted someone who was a good fit. He met with Dan Hampton, prosecutor; investigators in the prosecutor’s office, deputy prosecutors, defense attorneys. Bucher’s name came up in every conversation he had. “He is extremely proactive,” said Dukes. He has the numbers to back that up as well. In 2018, Bucher solved 157 criminal cases.

There is also a new matron at the sheriff’s office. Kris Woodard, former principal at North Webster Elementary, took over the position.

The new jail commander is Shane Coney, who came to the office with three years of jail experience at Noble County Sheriff’s Department and was highly recommended. “He has a total of 20 years in law enforcement,” Dukes stated, noting it was Coney who turned around the jail problems and issues at Noble County. “I was fortunate to hire him and for him to come over as our new jail commander.”

While there are still a few positions yet to be filled — a full time public information officer and several detectives — the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office is fully staffed. Dukes noted the previous administration had hired five officers to replace those who had left department toward the end of 2018.

Dukes, who after winning the primary and was unopposed in the general election, spent time with experienced sheriffs of Elkhart, Noble, Stueben and Cass counties. These sheriff’s took him under their wings and showed him the job and mentored him. He also attended sheriffs training in Muncie and met with surrounding sheriffs, forming friendships. This has led to the creation of monthly sheriffs meetings among these men and regular detective meetings.

The monthly police chief meetings, held for the past year, will continue. “It’s so important … all working together gets things done. We help each other out, talk … fun part about this is including Nappanee Police Department,” said Dukes, who stated a large portion of that town is in Kosciusko County. “We need to think outside the box and be proactive instead of reactive.”

While not all goals can be accomplished at once, Dukes has set his short term goals on getting officers back into the community, allowing them and the public to know the people. “More importantly getting in the schools and walking the halls, talking, listening, earning trust and friendships,” he said. “Letting people see us out and about.”

For the past four months, Dukes has been working with chiefs at Winona Lake, Warsaw and Nappanee police departments along with the Indiana State Police for a unified drug task force. The process is progressing with the formation expected in the coming months.

Another new program will be a detail in the Enchanted Hills area, in the northeast corner of the county. He has worked for the past four months with the Enchanted Hills Association and learned they need more of an officer presence in that area and the police need to take a proactive stance. “It’s a great working relationship for the northeast corner for a better and safer place to live.” Dukes will also be providing a report each month to the association’s board.

Dukes will continue with the JCAP program for women inmates and hopes to find a full time coordinator to extend that program to the male inmates. He plans to work with judges and prosecutors to reduce the jail population and get more in the work release program and to hold rehabilitation classes at the work release center, utilizing the center as a stepping stone for inmates before they get back into society and become productive citizens.

He’ll also continue the school resource officer program at Tippecanoe Valley High School and the lake patrol program on Syracuse, Wawasee and Tippecanoe lakes.

“I’m excited on the new direction that we’re going,” Dukes said.

He noted that not only will he have an open door policy for officers, staff and their families, but also for the public. “I report to the public. If an issue arises, or a problem … stop in or call.”

While Dukes was meeting with various merit officers and staff on Wednesday, the Indiana State Police provided a number of officers to cover the county. “I want to thank the Indiana State Police for bringing several troopers into the county,” he said. He also stated the cooperation between the ISP, sheriff’s officers and other agencies cooperating this morning resulting in resolution of a criminal investigation. “This is just the beginning of departments in a working relationship.”