Chief Deputy Jesus Monarrez announces run for Dubois County Sheriff

Chief Deputy Jesus Monarrez announced his candidacy for Dubois County Sheriff on the Republican ticket for the May 2026 primary election.

With nearly 20 years of law enforcement experience, Monarrez emphasizes his commitment to community safety and preserving the county’s values as central to his campaign.

“One county, one community, one mission – safety,” stated Monarrez in his campaign announcement.

Monarrez currently serves as Chief Deputy at the Dubois County Sheriff’s Office, where he has risen through the ranks since joining in 2011. His career includes service as a road officer, Emergency Response Team member, K9 handler, and Detective Sergeant.

“I believe in leading by example and actively participating in our community, not just in words but through meaningful action,” Monarrez said.

His law enforcement career began in 2006 with the Huntingburg Police Department, where he worked to strengthen relationships between law enforcement and the Hispanic community. Monarrez noted he was the first Hispanic police officer in Dubois County.

“It took years and years of community building that trust,” Monarrez said about his early career. “There were multiple levels of adversity that I had to overcome.”

Prior to his law enforcement career, Monarrez served in the Indiana Army National Guard, enlisting at age 17. He was deployed to Iraq in 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he served with a reconnaissance platoon.

During his military service, Monarrez built relationships with local Iraqi citizens, which he credits with helping develop his community-focused approach to law enforcement.

“I like being a protector of people,” Monarrez said about his career choice after returning from deployment.

Monarrez and his wife Contessa are raising three children in Dubois County – Connor, Cayson, and Eliana – while his oldest daughter Isabel and her husband Ernesto live in Jasper.

“As a family, we embrace the values that make Dubois County special: faith, hard work, and a love for the outdoors,” Monarrez said in his announcement.

Community involvement features prominently in Monarrez’s background. He has served nearly a decade with the Dubois Volunteer Fire Department and maintains career-long membership in the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 138, where he has held various leadership positions. Monarrez has also been active in programs such as Shop With a Cop (locally, Cops and Kids) and chaired the FOP Kids Camp for seven years.

If elected, Monarrez plans to prioritize increasing the presence of School Resource Officers, enhancing department efficiency and technology, strengthening community engagement, and maintaining open communication with citizens.

“Dubois County is a special place, a community of strong faith, hard work, and family values,” Monarrez said. “With your support, we can preserve our small-town way of life while ensuring the safety and security of our residents.”

Monarrez describes the county as a “jewel amongst the state” with strong family and faith values.

“I want to keep our way of life, the safety and security,” he said, pointing out that if someone were to walk across the county, rather than feel endangered, they’d likely “have half a dozen people stop and offer you a glass of water or a ride where you need to go or check on you to just make sure you’re okay.”

The candidate describes his decision to run as a natural progression after being appointed to the Chief Deputy position by current Sheriff Tom Kleinhelter. After being appointed Chief Deputy, Monarrez took on the added responsibility of helping to manage the sheriff’s office. Doing so encouraged him to take the next step and seek the sheriff’s office, he said.

“At the end of the day, I work for you and your family, and I am committed to doing everything in my power to protect and serve our county,” Monarrez stated in his announcement.

The primary election is scheduled for May 2026. Monarrez will face competition from Tim Lampert, who has also announced his candidacy on the Republican ticket.