Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Deputy and Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. school resource officer, Shaun Mudd, sits behind his desk at Tippecanoe Valley Middle School. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

AKRON — Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Shaun Mudd likes helping kids.

“I feel that if you reach them young enough you can kind of steer them in a good direction whereas … it’s harder to change an adult’s direction,” he said.

Thus, Mudd applied last year to become the Tippecanoe Valley School Corp.’s second school resource officer. He started in that role Oct. 2, 2023.

While fellow KCSO Deputy and Valley SRO Rick Shepherd covers Tippecanoe Valley High School, Mudd spends most of his time at Tippecanoe Valley Middle School, making trips once a week to Akron and Mentone elementary schools.

Mudd said being in a service career working with people is natural to him as his parents and siblings also have done the same in their respective job industries.

His first experience with his future career came when he was a high school freshman. Former Warsaw Police Department Officer Bob Long let him go on a ride-along with him.

After Mudd graduated from Warsaw Community High School, he went to Anderson University. There Mudd obtained his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and played football and ran track.

Mudd started his law enforcement career as a Kosciusko County Jail correctional officer. He worked there for seven years before becoming a KCSO deputy in 2018.

He said he enjoyed helping people through being a regular deputy, but the situations he dealt with took a toll on him. Becoming a SRO has benefited him emotionally, he said.

Mudd prepared in a way to become one of Valley’s SROs by volunteering as counselor at the KCSO’s kids’ camp, Camp H.E.R.O, and the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association kids’ camp.

His tasks at Valley are focused on school security and building relationships with students.

Mudd goes into hallways during passing periods at TVMS to “hang out with the kids and pass out mints.”

“At Akron and Mentone, I usually … sit with (students) through their lunch periods,” he said.

He noted Akron students enjoy getting autographs, so that’s something he’s done often there.

Mudd will also sit down with kids at the schools who are dealing with emotional issues to talk with them.

He said students will sometimes forget his job also includes protecting the schools.

“I’ve told people, ‘I’m here to hang out with you guys, but I’m also here to protect you. If someone came into school, they would be carrying me out or they would be carrying him out,’” said Mudd.

Despite being a cop and helping with school security, Mudd said he’s not a serious person, mentioning he’s been a DJ for a school dance.

“This world is too serious for me to be serious,” he said.

When school isn’t in session, Mudd returns to his typical road patrol duties.

Aside from serving as a police officer, Mudd also helps others through his Bowling Against Bullying event.

Set to return in late summer, Bowling Against Bullying allows kids to enjoy free bowling and other activities. Mudd started it to help kids feel supported and cared for.

He’s also established a fund to offer students a college scholarship through Bowling Against Bullying.

“We just hit our $25,000 mark,” he said. “So, next spring we’ll be offering a $1,000 scholarship, so that’s pretty big news.”

Mudd has been married to wife, Eva, for 19 years. They have two sons and a daughter.

In his spare time, Mudd enjoys making soap, deer hunting and archery. He also crochets, with him working on a blanket, which will be a prize for Warsaw Education Foundation’s upcoming Community Quiz Bowl.

The bowl allows community members to participate in a trivia competition, which raises funds for Warsaw Community Schools. Mudd will also compete on a team with others from the KCSO.