By Liz Adkins
InkFreeNews

Shanna Wallen

WARSAW — Kosciusko County Recovery Program Resource Navigator Shanna Wallen was introduced to the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Merit Board during a July 11 meeting.

Wallen began her work at the Kosciusko County Jail on July 8. She is a certified Peer Recovery coach and previously taught life skills classes in the Kosciusko County Jail Chemical Addiction Program.

Through KCRP, inmates will receive help with readjusting to society in order to prevent recidivism.

“When (Shanna) was interested in this position and we interviewed her, we just felt she was a really good fit,” said JCAP Coordinator Casey Trombley. “She has a heart for the people that are in our custody. She’s going to do a great job and is really embedded in the local recovery community.”

Trombley said Wallen was already working with an inmate who lives in Michigan and will be released from jail the week of July 15. She’s been coordinating with Fellowship Missions and Living in Transition Effectively to get the person transported to Michigan.

“I’m just very grateful to be here,” said Wallen. “This is a really awesome opportunity to help people.”

In other business, Kosciusko County Sheriff Jim Smith and Lt. Mike Mulligan discussed how busy the sheriff’s office has been over the last few weeks, especially with handling serious vehicle accidents.

“It just seems like it’s been a lot,” said Smith. “Those aren’t just accidents that you can (write up) on the side of the road. There’s a lot that goes into it … medical results, blood tests, toxicology, measuring the scenes, all that. The guys that are doing that have full-time jobs and are trying to do these (reports) in a timely manner and it’s become more challenging the more you have, trying to get those done to give closure for the families, and bring people to justice in the times when it’s needed. They’re doing the best they can.”

The board also:

• Learned the next JCAP graduation will be at 2 p.m. Friday, July 12.
• Learned the board will have an election for a future vacant seat on the board on Aug. 9. Board Member Tony Garza is stepping down in August.

The board’s next meeting is on Thursday, Aug. 8.