That starts with training our deputies to recognize mental health crisis before someone ever reaches a jail cell by identifying the real problem and connecting people with help, not just handcuffs. We need strong partnerships with organizations like the Area Five Agency on Aging & Community Services to secure funding and provide training on Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and working with cognitively delayed individuals.

We’ll expand Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for both deputies, jailers and chaplains. CIT is a community-led program that fosters collaboration among law enforcement, mental health providers, individuals with mental illnesses, families, and communities to improve interactions and reduce stigma. CIT can also help keep people with mental illness out of jail and in treatment, on the road to recovery. It would be extremely helpful in our jail because jail staff often have longer, ongoing contact and need the tools to handle those situations safely and humanely.

Increasing de-escalation training for the entire department will be a must. Most calls for service and jail incidents start with stress, fear, confusion, or anger—not pure criminal intent. De-escalation reduces the chance of a situation turning physical. Fewer fights, fewer injuries to staff, fewer injuries to inmates or the public. That’s a win for everybody.

Good training protects our citizens, our staff, and our county. That also means training to prevent future lawsuits through better instruction in emergency driving, use of force, physical tactics, handling inmate violations, proper documentation, report writing, and understanding Indiana Jail standards and overall jail operations.

We’ll invest in cross-training our staff to understand classification, administrative/disciplinary segregation, inmate rights, and the critical differences between pretrial detainees and sentenced individuals — and how discipline can be properly carried out, including when it involves the Indiana Department of Correction.

We will also prioritize training our deputies on the Indiana Sex Offender Registry, so deputies know how to properly monitor, document, and file violations — because accountability, accuracy and the safety of our children matter.

I believe in training with local and surrounding law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and emergency medical services for critical incidents to ensure better communication during responses. I’m a firm believer in having real world scenario training in our schools because preparation reduces chaos, panic, and hesitation when seconds matter.

As Sheriff I will expand continuing education and specialty schools, building and protecting a real training budget, and integrating tactical training across agencies so we communicate better and operate as one team when it counts most.

Better training means better decisions, safer outcomes, and a stronger, more professional Sheriff’s Office for Cass County. That’s the standard I’m committed to setting — and keeping.