Sheriff reports on K-9 unit’s 2021 activity, gives department’s annual report during first county council meeting of the year
By JESSICA BRICKER
Last year, K-9 Leo of the Wells County Sheriff’s Department was deployed 15 times to track down fleeing suspects, assisted with four barricaded suspect calls, provided assistance for perimeter security “during high-risk operations” six times and assisted with the arrest of a murder suspect.
K-9 handler Sgt. Andrew Campbell compiles an annual activity report for the K-9 unit, and Sheriff Scott Holliday distributed the 2021 report Tuesday evening to the Wells County Council. Holliday said it’s nice to see the investment and what the unit does in the community.
“It takes a lot of work and training for a K-9 officer to be a dog handler, and the investment that the county makes in having one of those dogs,” Holliday said. “There is a significant payoff as well. Plus he’s pretty famous.”
K-9 Leo has won the News-Banner’s reader’s choice contest two years in a row for best first responder and best police officer in Wells County. He also has a following on the department’s social media page. Holliday said Leo is a good public relations tool for the department and children love the interaction.
But he is also successful at his job.
“In the end, he does exactly what he’s supposed to do and that’s to help deter crime and sniff out drugs and apprehend people who don’t want to comply,” Holliday said. “We’re very glad to have him.”
Among the items in the report:
• Total deployments: 127
• 306 training hours
• One search for a missing child
• Three times present during a reported burglary in progress
• 13 instances of found drugs, including cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.
• A “bite apprehension of a suspect refusing to exit (the) vehicle after Blackford County vehicle pursuit ended in Wells County. Suspect attempted to break into Montpelier Historical Society prior to pursuit.”
• “K-9 Leo’s presence and barking convinced seven suspects who were in a Warren hotel room to surrender without altercation. One subject had an arrest for murder. Two others (were) wanted for their roles in the shooting or supplying the gun. Warrants were in connection with an Ohio shooting. They made comments it was the barking dog that caused them to surrender.”
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Holliday also presented his department’s activity report for 2021.
The number of inmates booked in the Wells County Jail last year (906) nearly matched the number in 2020 (905). The average daily population dropped slightly in 2021, though, down to 70.37 compared to 73.46 in 2020. The number of meals served dropped from 78,787 to 75,137.
In 2021, there were 286 felony arrests, 387 misdemeanor arrests, 1,006 traffic stops, 300 traffic tickets, and 313 accidents investigated.
The amount of income generated by the department dropped by less than $5,800, and Holliday accredited that to the fact that lifetime handgun permits in Indiana became fee-exempt in July 2021. Gun permits generated $14,730 in 2020 and $6,500 through June 2021.
Overall, the income was $413,626.55 in 2020 and $407,863.01 in 2021. That includes $370,375 in Indiana Department of Correction per diem in 2020 and $380,058 in per diem in 2021.
jessica@news-banner.com
