Dubois County Sheriff wants to add social workers to department

The sheriff’s office is exploring adding two social workers to the roster.

Community Corrections Director Megan Durlauf and Sheriff Tom Kleinhelter approached the County Commissioners and Council seeking approval for the new positions. They plan on applying for the Edwin Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant grant to fund the positions, but the county will need to prepare to fully fund the positions as the grant runs down over five years. The five-year grants will fund the request fully for the first two years, 75 percent the third year, 50 percent the fourth year and then 25 percent in the final year.

Durlauf told the council on Monday they would like for the county’s Correctional and Rehabilitative Facilities Local Income Tax (C and R tax) to cover funding for the position as the grant stairsteps down. The Corrections and Rehabilitation Tax is a 0.2 percent increase in the county’s income tax that was passed to support the updates to the security center and jail.

Initially skeptical to how the new positions could benefit the department, Kleinhelter told the council on Monday he fully supports the addition. “I didn’t really know and understand how that would be embedded into law enforcement,” he told the council.

“It would be more about helping law enforcement with our citizens,” Kleinhelter explained. “Stuff that law enforcement comes across on a daily basis that may not be criminal in nature, but maybe the deputies don’t know how to get them resources.”

As an example, an officer may respond to something overnight like a domestic disturbance that doesn’t include criminal charges. While the immediate issue is resolved, follow up with information or resources could help prevent more issues or help resolve problems completely.

“The social worker can follow up with that person and get them the resources quicker,” Kleinhelter said. “Because we just don’t have all those resources as law enforcement at two o’clock in the morning.”

Bloomington Police Department has touted the success of adding social workers in 2016 — predating the most recent riots and police reform pushes. They worked in conjunction with IU. The university has pioneered a program through its School of Social Work that has students interning with police departments in several Indiana police departments. Bloomington has added three permanent social workers to its department since 2016.

Chief Deputy Jesus Monarrez and Narcotics Officer John Anderson attended a training seminar in Bloomington covering how departments use social workers in law enforcement.

Monarrez told the council that he went to the seminar with intentions to find reasons not to support the idea. He joked that prior to attending he wondered if a social worker would ride along with officers and offer free hugs.

However, he came away with a newfound appreciation for the impact a counselor or social worker could have on the community and police work.

“It completely changed my mind 100%,” he said.

He explained that the seminar opened up a world of opportunities for helping officers cope with many different scenarios. A social worker would also be able to help with individuals officers regularly have calls from that don’t have issues within the scope of law enforcement.

For officers dealing with the mental and emotional impact of some of the scenarios they respond to a staff social worker would be someone they trust to help them through their struggles.

“We see some things that go directly to the soul,” Monarrez said. “Things you cannot unsee. Some things you can’t forget.”

Anderson echoed Monarrez statements and added that he believes the addition of a social worker or counselor would benefit the whole community. “This could alleviate a lot of the calls for police to where they can focus on police work because a lot of this is followup; especially with victims,” he said.

Anderson explained that there have been plenty of times he wondered if there was more he could do in a situation even though his duties in regards to personal and public safety were accomplished.

He pointed out that the state has abdicated the well-being of the county to the county officials.

“I really feel really strongly that we need this for the residents of Dubois County,” Anderson told the council. “I really hope that you guys do this and understand the difference you can make in people’s lives. Especially kids, because it’s the parents with the problems and a kid can’t get away from it.”

The commissioners and council both saw the potential impact the new position could have on the community.

When presented with the grant proposal, the commissioners gave the approval to apply for it but will wait to see if it is awarded before creating the new positions in the sheriff’s department. The council would then consider whether to fund the new positions before they would be filled.

Councilwoman Charmian Klem said she was concerned about the funding once the C and R tax went away. The tax is set to sunset in 2039. It is something future councils will have to consider, she added.

The county will be notified by January 1, 2022, if they receive the grant and then have 60 days to implement the program.