Kramer, Drew appointed to top positions in Huntingburg Police Department
Huntingburg’s Assistant Police Chief Brad Kramer and Officer Rusty Drew have been promoted to lead the department.
Mayor Neil Elkins and Clerk-Treasurer Tom Dippell swore both into office on May 20.
Assistant Chief Rusty Drew has served in the department since 2011, most recently as the department’s narcotics detective.
Kramer joined the department in 2012 after serving as a Ferdinand Officer for about a year. In 2018, he was appointed assistant chief of police.
Regarding the appointments, Mayor Elkins stated that the mayor’s office is responsible for appointing the city’s leadership. He said that due to the type of work officers do each day, it was important for them to have confidence in their leadership. So, he spoke with department members to determine who they felt would best lead the department. The consistent answer was Brad Kramer.
“I met with Officer Kramer and interviewed him, and I had to make a decision on who I thought was the best leader for the department,” Elkins said.
“Not an easy decision to make. While Officer Parks has served the city well for several years,” he added. “I had to be able to look at who’s the best leader right now and has the respect of the officers.”
Since the appointment, Elkins said he has received positive feedback from area agencies that have worked and trained with Kramer.
Kramer said he took on the role because he has confidence in the team of officers in the department.
“I have all the confidence in the world in our team to make this department a better place than before,” he said. “Having Assistant Chief Rusty Drew by my side through this next chapter will make it that much easier as well.”
Kramer wants the officers in the department to know they have a voice.
“If they have an idea about wanting to do something or changing something, I want them to know that we are there to listen,” he explained. “It may not always happen right away or at all, but they will be given a reason as to why and not the old adage, ‘Well, we’ve always done it this way’. This is our department, not mine.”
He said the Huntingburg Police Officers represent the community well and are passionate about their careers, striving to do their best daily.
“Although I’ve only been in this role since May 21st, being my first official day, the work started long before, building partnerships/relationships with community members, local organizations and local businesses,” Kramer said.
According to Mayor Elkins, the former chief of police, Art Parks, still has a position in the department as an officer.
Parks spent more than 28 years in the Huntingburg Police Department, 16 of them as an officer before being appointed chief in 2012 by then-Mayor Denny Spinner to replace outgoing chief Ron Drew.
“He’s been very helpful to Chief Kramer during the transition through a lot of good conversations and he’s been available anytime we’ve called,” Elkins said.
