Sheriff’s Department creates Koontz Deputy of the Year award
Deputy Christopher Sanders first recipient during annual inspection and ceremony
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The Howard County Sheriff’s Department holds a formal inspection and awards ceremony each year, but this year’s event held special significance. The department now has a “Deputy of the Year” award, named after fallen officer Carl A. Koontz.
During the inspection on May 4, all deputies and corrections officers turned out in their dress uniforms and working attire. The department vehicles were arrayed in the jail parking lot, and the department leadership reviewed each officer and vehicle. The department then gathered for an address from guest speaker Wayne County Sheriff Randy Retter and an awards ceremony.
“Some of you may be coming into this event wondering what's really the value of this inspection?” said Retter. “Why is it so important that we do things like this? It reinforces many values, which are incredibly important to the job that you do every day.
“As you prepare your equipment, it reinforces your attention to detail. Attention to detail is something that may be important to solving a serious crime, or getting the conviction for that crime, or perhaps even saving your life one day.
“Your appearance projects professionalism. It gives your community the faith that they need to believe in you and the job that you do for them every day. And it also tells the criminals that we have to deal with that maybe I shouldn't challenge this person because they've got their act together. It also embodies teamwork.”
Retter went on to list the qualities of a deputy that are displayed through the inspection process: integrity, courage, benevolence, respect, honesty, honor, and loyalty. He called them the cornerstones of responsible law enforcement.
“These fundamentals are in full display right here today,” said Retter. “They're proven by the service that you provide to your community every day. Continue to follow these fundamentals as you not only represent law enforcement for Howard County, but also law enforcement and corrections throughout the state of Indiana and throughout our great nation. I'm proud to serve alongside each one of you. Thank you for what you do every day.”
The sheriff's department instituted five new awards during the inspection and ceremony, designed to recognize those who go above and beyond their performance of duties. These annual awards include those who lead the department in traffic enforcement, criminal arrests, DUI enforcement, and the “Top Shot.”
The fifth award holds special significance. The department will now recognize a deputy of the year with an award named after fallen officer Carl Koontz. The 2023 Carl A. Koontz Deputy of the Year is Deputy Christopher Sanders.
Captain Jordan Buckley, who served alongside Koontz on the call that resulted in Koontz’s death in 2016, explained the process for nominating and naming the deputy of the year.
“You have to be nominated by a fellow deputy,” said Buckley. “Once the nominations are received, they go through an administrative review, and a recipient is chosen if the criteria are met. Because of the stringent requirements, this award may not be given out each year.
“The service for which the deputy is being nominated for can include, but is not limited to, extreme actions of valor, honor, off-duty law enforcement service, exemplary community service, and distinguished service throughout the previous year.”
Buckley briefly acknowledged March 20, 2016, when Koontz fell in the line of duty, and explained how Koontz upheld the core values of the department and how his example leads the department today.
“From that day forward, when we put on our uniform, we continue to ensure that Deputy Koontz’s legacy lives on through our work,” said Buckley. “The words, ‘Never Forget,’ are more than a catchphrase. They are a promise.”
Buckley then called Sanders to the podium to receive the first Carl A. Koontz Deputy of the Year award. Sanders, who joined the department in 2021, has completed nearly 3,000 calls for service during his tenure.
“He has made just shy of 200 arrests and has helped hundreds of citizens on and off duty,” said Buckley, reading from the winning nomination form. “He is always willing to help and puts others ahead of himself. I know of at least three incidents he has been involved in where he used his knowledge and experience to help save someone's life while putting his own life at risk and did so without hesitation,
“Deputy Sanders is confident in his training and tactics but walks with humility, striving to do what is right. He conducts himself in a professional manner on and off duty and represents our agency well. He is firm, fair and consistent and treats others as he wants to be treated. He uses common sense and is compassionate while still maintaining his position as a law enforcement officer. Deputy Sanders also serves his community by working as a school resource officer at Eastern where he has developed good relations with the students and staff.”
The recipients of the other new awards included: Deputy Kody Detamore, who completed 880 traffic stops in the previous year; Deputy Zach Schultz, who made 173 criminal arrests; and Detamore again, who completed 77 DUI arrests. Because statistics on shooting accuracy were not compiled in the previous year, the “Top Shot” award was not given.
Following the keynote address, Capt. Gary Cook awarded commendations to many of the officers for their work over the previous year. A summary of these awards is listed here.
On July 16, 2022, Howard County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched for a disoriented female who had wrecked her bicycle; her exact location was unknown. Corporal Ryan Reel arrived in the area and activated his siren so the dispatchers could hear it in the caller’s phone as he got closer. Corporal Reel was able to locate the female a short time later at the bottom of a steep embankment under some brush. Dispatchers Kim Silcox and Brandon Fisher took the call and worked with Corporal Reel to formulate a plan to activate the sirens.
On Nov. 1, 2022, a fatal fire broke out at Lakewood Apartments, Deputy Chris Sanders responded off duty and arrived at the scene along with the Kokomo Fire Department. Sanders was flagged down by a bystander to come to the rear of the apartment where he learned that someone was still inside. Without hesitation, Deputy Sanders crawled into the apartment without equipment and located the victim. She was severely injured by the fire, but Sanders was able to pull her out of the apartment. Unfortunately, the victim did not survive, but Deputy Sanders was able to comfort her in her final moments.
Sergeant Eric Grimm, Corporal James Jewell, civil process officer Jordan Hicks, kitchen supervisor Tom Cleaver, Officers Tony Cochran, Kelly Partlow, Joshua Cox, Jorge Serrano Alfonzo, Shawnda Russo, Madison Burke, Heather Kapil, Maria Martinez Wilson, and James Clark were honored for their work. On Nov. 14, 2022, an inmate started a fire within a housing unit with an electrical outlet. Responding officers were able to evacuate the unit safely. The fire was extinguished prior to the fire units arriving on scene. Only two inmates received injuries that were that were non-fire related.
On Feb. 7, deputies received a report of a missing person. The situation evolved into a homicide investigation. A suspect was identified and ultimately detained on an outstanding warrant. Detectives built their case and submitted a warrant request for the charge of murder. The suspect was interviewed on Feb. 10 in a two-and-a-half-hour interview. Due to technical difficulties, the recording of the interview contained poor sound quality. CID secretary Debbie Everling was able to manipulate and slow down the audio to extract the words spoken by the defendant, transcribing 98 pages of spoken words. Everling transcribed two additional interviews with the same suspect, resulting in 125 additional transcribed pages over 32 hours of overtime in a two-week period.
On Feb. 9, communications officer Brandi Jeffries received a call from an unknown female from an anonymous number who gave a tip on the whereabouts of murder suspect in the Indian Heights subdivision. Jeffries contacted Corporal Mark Brackett to notify patrol deputies of the little information received: a first name and a general area. Corporal Brackett, Sergeant Stephen Klein, and deputies Zachary Schultz, Ezekiel Zimmerman, and Trevor Richmond went to the area and recognized the suspect’s vehicle at a residence. The subject was later placed in custody.
On Feb. 13, Deputy Chris Sanders located two juvenile female sisters on a bicycle near Slate Mechanical and State Road 22. The older sister had snuck out to go to a friend's house and brought her little sister along. They were cold and scared when Deputy Sanders found them. Both girls were returned home safely to their mother.
On March 11, Sgt. Justin Markley was ending his shift early to attend an event with his family. Deputies were dispatched to a hit-and-run accident. The suspect vehicle ran off the road on State Road 22 near County Road 400 West, and the two suspects fled on foot. Sgt. Markley was close, so he left his home to assist with the call. After the suspects were detained, he completed the field arrest at the Kinsey Youth Center as the other deputies tended to the stolen vehicle and other driver.
On March 26, Deputy Chris Sanders was dispatched to the jail for an unconscious, unresponsive inmate. Upon arrival, Sanders immediately started CPR and recognized that the inmate was overdosing. He administered Narcan and aided the medics when they arrived. The female inmate began breathing and was able to fully recover. Not only was Sanders a lifesaver, but his investigation determined that the inmate had overdosed on fentanyl which was brought in by another inmate. The other inmate was charged with possession and trafficking.
CERT members James Clark, Adam Bray, Diomedes Perdomo Garcia, Dakota Childers, Joe Washington, Eric Grimm, Kyle Meagher, Robert Rood, Josh Cox, James Bufkin, Madison Burke, Shawnda Russo, and Johnathan Shaw were recognized for their work in providing medical coverage. When inmates are ill, they need constant watch while receiving medical care outside of the facility. The CERT officers stepped up, working not only their regular hours, but also working major overtime hours to cover the hospital.
On March 31, Howard County was impacted by severe weather, including tornadoes, for several hours. The dispatch center made and received a total of 239 calls and processed 200 calls for service from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. There were four dispatchers scheduled to work that evening: Sam Drazich, Whitney Rood, Hannah Rumsey, and Sabrina Morgan, with Megan Tenwinkel and Caleb Schlechty coming in during their time off to help. They worked together to make sure that help was available in a timely manner for those that needed it.
· Also on March 31, dispatch received a call regarding a collapsed structure at 5700 West, 400 South. Upon arrival, it was discovered that a mobile home on the property was completely destroyed and a subject was trapped inside. Sergeant Steve Kline, Sergeant Mike Hamilton, and deputies Artemio Cardenas, Lindsey Needler, and Robert Duke arrived on scene and worked together to locate the injured man under the rubble. They got him out safely to receive medical attention.
A debt of gratitude is owed to Captain Jordan Buckley for his efforts on House Bill 1186. Captain Buckley worked with local prosecutors on verbiage before presenting it to our local state representatives. Captain Buckley also arranged an exercise including other sheriff deputies to demonstrate what unlawful encroachment on an investigation looks like at various distances. With testimony from Captain Buckley and other law enforcement officials throughout the state, this bill passed the House and Senate was signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb on April 20.
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