Wanda English Burnett, Editor

After a year in office, Sheriff Tom Grills talked with The Versailles Republican about some of the challenges, highlights and future goals for his office.

Transitioning from being one of the deputies to a leadership position was definitely new for Grills and he said he’s still learning about the administrative process. But, he has met the challenges head on, and says with the help of his staff and deputies, feels the sheriff’s office is more equipped than ever to meet the needs of residents of Ripley County.

The position of detective was brought back to the sheriff’s office with Grills saying it has had a positive effect. “Having a detective allows high profile cases to get more attention,” he noted. Corky Houseworth, who was already working with the sheriff’s office, has assumed the position of detective. The detective can also assist the other deputies and follow up on cases.

Another decision that caused some controversy was the purchase of a new vehicle for the sheriff. “I know it cost $36,000, but what some people may not understand, that money came out of commissary funds, not taxpayers pockets,” the sheriff noted. “I have only purchased one and it will last a very long time.” The 2008 Tahoe is fully equipped to serve as a mobile command unit should the need arise. The sheriff said there was more thought put into purchasing the vehicle than “me just wanting a nice vehicle to drive around in.” A power converter makes it possible for the sheriff to charge batteries, cell phones, flashlights, and access the Internet. “I can connect with many programs at the jail or sheriff’s office. I will be able to see all the surveillance cameras, access phone lines and more,” he told The Versailles Republican.

Along with the Tahoe, the sheriff purchased equipment, uniforms and training needs for his staff from the Inmate Commissary Account. This is money generated from the inmates when they purchase candy, pop and other miscellaneous items while incarcerated. According to Indiana law, that money can only be spent for certain things and is no expense to the taxpayer. Sheriff Grills said he re-negotiated the contract with a Ripley County vending company increasing the commission received for more than double. It went from 12% to 25%. He noted that he also re-negotiated the inmate phone contract to include a $30,000 sign-on bonus.

The Work Release and Home Incarceration program rates have been increased under the direction of the new sheriff. “These sentences are privileges, not rights,” he noted. “Every convicted defendant has the right to serve time in jail, not on home incarceration or work release.”

Other ordinances the sheriff has initiated or re-negotiated include:
• Maintenance contracts for the jail to cut repair costs.
• Worked to terminate the Sheriff Improvement Fund (which he says violated state statute).
• A medical ordinance is in place to increase the revenue generated from inmates to help defray medical costs to the county.

The sheriff has also worked closely with the emergency management agency to increase relations and secure grant monies for laptops, radios and more through Homeland Security.

Sheriff Grills said his office is working diligently to increase revenue through any avenue they can. This will offset costs incurred by the office for needed equipment, etc. and also be able to put money back into the general fund for the county.

Inmates are now charged a fee to see a nurse and are charged for prescriptions.

Last year the jail had an average of 90 inmates per day, compared to 77 inmates per day in 2006, according to Sheriff Grills. He noted there were approximately 55-60 Ripley County inmates on average. Revenue is generated when inmates are housed from the Department of Correction and other counties that need the service. He noted that the revenue generated from other departments was down this year due to more jails being built in the surrounding area. The sheriff noted that the jail has contracted with Advanced Correctional, a medical company that provides medical care to correctional facilities, and has saved the county $45,562 in 2007. In 2006, the savings were $15,482.

While the sheriff’s salary is a hot topic, he says he wants the voting public to know he’s not a greedy person only after the money. “I’m here to serve the community and while I feel the salary issue has portrayed me in a bad light, there’s more to the story,” he noted. He says there are three ways a sheriff can be compensated. 1.) Common Law. This is where the sheriff retains a salary of another elected official, earns 10% of State Tax Warrants collected by the office, and collects excess money from the (inmates) meal allowance. 2.) The sheriff can earn a percentage of the prosecutor’s salary based on the population of the respective county and may retain the Tax Warrant money, and 3.) Enter into a contract for more than the minimum of #2 and less than the maximum of #1. “By agreeing on a contract, I have saved the county thousands of dollars,” Grills stated.

According to Sheriff Grills, the county council set the sheriff’s salary at a percentage of the prosecutor’s salary in 2006 in budget hearings at $70,000. He says after he was elected, the council said they would not pay the incoming sheriff that amount. His pay was then decreased by $6,000, which he believes is still owed to him. He then proposed in 2007 that he collect Tax Warrant monies (by state law) to earn that $6,000 that was not paid to him previously. His proposal was denied. “I don’t feel that was right,” he noted, saying, however, it won’t diminish the quality of work he does, nor make him put in any less hours.

The sheriff says he enjoys what he does and has been busy with a number of things that he felt needed upgraded or changed in the office. He noted that some changes were required by state law and had been neglected. To name a few, he has re-established the Merit Board and created rules. This project alone was very time consuming. He re-drafted the Standard Operating Procedures, enhancing some; established the Reserve Ordinance and increased its participation from three to 10 officers. He is also working to establish a worker’s compensation and death benefit for the reserves, who volunteer for free.
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Other upgrades include:
• Hiring process for full time/reserve deputies.
• Purchased two 4WD vehicles.
• Submitted various grants to upgrade equipment etc.
• Website update: www.ripleycounty.com/sheriff
• Tightened security at the jail and office.
• Fixed the Integrator/video security system.
• Increased jail staff from nine full time correctional officers and one part time position to 14 full-time officers including the jail commander (needed for security purposes for both employees and inmates).
• Brought accountability and discipline to the office.

Along with being a full time officer on the road, the sheriff has worked many hours to affect these changes to make the jail and sheriff’s office a more efficiently run entity of county government. “That was part of my campaign promise, and I have kept it,” he concluded.

But, there’s more. This year, the sheriff hopes to implement some changes that will enhance the office even more. He says he has plans to concentrate on the jail and get it exactly where it should be. He has already been working on a program that will allow insurance agencies to access crash reports on the Internet, and has set a top priority of getting the Sex Offender Registry up to date. “This was not kept up since 2004-2005, and I feel it’s top priority for the safety of our children,” he told The Versailles Republican. He has already launched a campaign to actively look for those who are not registered and have them incarcerated.

He said probably his biggest challenge is trying to get some elected officials and the citizens to understand he’s trying to do what’s best for the community. “I’m working as hard as I can to make sure everything is taken care of,” he said. “I also have a jail and a hundred inmates I am responsible for that no other agency head has. Some people do not understand the behind the scene business that goes on in law enforcement. If you don’t work, then people have an increased potential to be injured,” he noted. Grills continued, “I do not have time to sit around and drink coffee just yet. There is a lot of work yet to be done. You may not see me out in the public that much, but I have priorities to adhere to for safety’s sake. If I do not raise the bar, citizens suffer. I put in a lot of hours to make sure my employees have what they need to do their job. I am available to them 24-7. My phone accepts calls and e-mail. I can always be found.”

The bottom line is when the day is done, the sheriff says you can rest assured he’s doing the best that can be done.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO Sheriff Tom Grills lift the back door of the new vehicle he purchased to reveal the Tahoe can actually serve as a mobile command unit. A power converter makes it possible for the sheriff to charge batteries, cell phones, flashlights and access the Internet.