Q&A with Dubois County’s two options for sheriff
Dubois County voters will choose a new sheriff in this year’s election. Republican Tim Lampert faces Independent Tim Rasche.
Lampert, of Jasper, has worked at the Dubois County Sheriff’s Department since 1990. He started as a jail officer, became a road deputy in 1994 and was appointed chief deputy in 2011. He now serves as a school resource officer.
Rasche has worked at the department for about 32 years, including six years as a corrections officer and four years as chief jailer. He is a U.S. Army veteran who also served in the Army Reserve and Indiana National Guard.
What the sheriff does
The sheriff runs the county’s law enforcement agency. That includes road patrol in areas outside city police jurisdiction, the county jail, service of court papers, school resource officers for Northeast and Southeast Dubois County corporations and courthouse security. The sheriff serves a four-year term and may serve only two consecutive terms.
The Free Press asked both candidates the same five questions. Their answers appear below as submitted, in alphabetical order by last name.
What is your single top priority for the sheriff’s office, and what specifically would you do in your first year to deliver on it?
Tim Lampert: This is a difficult question because I have several priorities that I believe are critical, but if I have to identify one, it is this: keeping Dubois County safe by restoring trust and making sure the Sheriff’s Department has the leadership, training, equipment, and community partnerships necessary to do the job well.
Public safety starts with a department the community trusts and employees are proud to be part of. In my first year, I would begin by meeting with our deputies, jail officers, staff, and other community leaders to identify their needs and make sure they have the proper equipment, training, and support to do their jobs safely and effectively. I would continue pursuing state and federal grants whenever possible so we can improve equipment and training without placing the entire burden on local taxpayers. That is something I successfully did when I served as Chief Deputy in the past.
I would also set the tone from day one that honesty, integrity, accountability, and respect are non-negotiable. Restoring public trust requires being visible, accessible, transparent, and willing to listen. Trust is not something you can simply promise, it has to be earned every day through your actions.
Finally, I would strengthen partnerships with other law enforcement agencies, the courts, Community Corrections, JRAC, mental-health providers, and community leaders, including the county council and commissioners. We must work together to keep Dubois County safe.
Drugs and mental-health challenges contribute significantly to what law enforcement encounters. Those who pose a danger to our community or repeatedly victimize others must be held accountable, and prison may be the appropriate consequence. However, for offenders whose actions are driven by addiction, accountability should also include treatment, supervision, and access to resources that can help them turn their lives around. By combining firm consequences with effective treatment, we can reduce repeat offenses, prevent future victims, and build a safer Dubois County.
At the end of my first year, I want our community to see a Sheriff’s Department that is professional, accountable, well-trained, well-equipped, visible in the community, and working together toward one goal which is keeping Dubois County a safe place to live, work, and raise a family.
Tim Rasche: My top priority is supporting the Deputies who work the road. We are still trying to get by with minimal deputies to serve the entire county on some of the shifts. This must change immediately. I have been on the road for 22 years yet we still on occasion have 2 Deputies working a 12-hour shift as we did in 2006. Although it is a lot better today, this is my top priority.
I will fix this by adding the 3 deputies who are currently in the academy to the road after they pass the Field training officer program.
Flock cameras have come under public scrutiny recently. Do you support, or would you put in place, stronger auditing and regulation of how Flock data is used, such as regular audits of searches, public reporting, or state rules?
Tim Lampert: Flock cameras can be a very useful law-enforcement tool when they are used for the purpose they were designed for. They can help locate missing children and adults, recover stolen vehicles, identify vehicles connected to violent offenders, and assist in kidnapping and other serious criminal investigations. We have seen technology like this help law enforcement locate people quickly when time can be critical.
At the same time, I am a firm believer that what is right is right. Technology has to be used correctly, lawfully, and only for legitimate law-enforcement purposes.
As Sheriff, I would support internal controls over the use of Flock data, including regular audits of searches and clear policies outlining who can access the system and for what purposes. These audits must receive careful oversight and lead to corrective action when policies are not followed.
I also believe the public deserves transparency about how this technology is used while protecting active investigations and sensitive law-enforcement information. I would support reasonable legislation that ensures the technology is used responsibly, lawfully, and only for legitimate public-safety purposes.
The same standard would apply to Flock cameras as it would to other systems within the Sheriff’s Department: use them correctly, document their use, audit them regularly, and hold people accountable. If misuse occurs, it should be addressed immediately and effectively.
These cameras can be an important tool for keeping our community safe, but public trust depends on using that tool responsibly.
Tim Rasche: Flock cameras are a great tool. They have proven over time be very useful in many ways. They have helped locate missing people, identify stolen vehicles and identify traffic violators with suspended licenses. In short, they keep the community safe.
I would support annual state auditing to allow an outside source to check the Flock system to make sure there are no privacy violations. Public reporting may also serve as a positive reason for their use
What are the biggest public safety challenges in Dubois County, and how will you measure whether you’re making progress?
Tim Lampert: One of the biggest public safety challenges facing Dubois County is the impact of drugs on individuals, families, and especially our children. Too many children are growing up in homes affected by addiction, instability, and repeated involvement with the criminal justice system. If we do not address that cycle, we will continue seeing the same problems generation after generation. Being an SRO has opened my eyes to this,
We have to hold people accountable when they break the law, but we also have to ask whether what we are doing is actually reducing the likelihood that they come back into the system. Arresting the same people over and over again is not a long-term measure of success.
As Sheriff, I would work closely with our courts, probation, Community Corrections, treatment providers, schools, mental-health professionals, and community organizations to strengthen prevention, treatment, enforcement, and reentry efforts. Law enforcement cannot solve these problems alone, but we play an important role in bringing the right people to the table and making sure we are working toward the same goal.
I would also look closely at trends involving juveniles and families because preventing the next generation from entering the criminal justice system is just as important as responding to crime after it happens.
Success is not simply making more arrests. Success is having fewer victims, fewer repeat offenders, safer families, and fewer children growing up believing that addiction and incarceration are normal parts of life. That is the kind of progress I would want our community to see and be able to measure.
Tim Rasche: Manpower for the road, drugs, and traffic.
Coverage for the road is key when working accidents, investigating cases, needing backup, and writing mandatory reports.
Drugs have always been a challenge for law enforcement. I believe the task force we had with other departments is where I will lean to combat this.
Drivers that commute from other counties during rush hour are a challenge. The number of accidents during that time creates manpower shortages. Impaired drivers seem to be increasing, and they are on the road at all times.
The only way to measure our progress is statistics, focus, and public opinion
What do you feel is the Sheriff’s Office’s biggest challenge over the next four years?
Tim Lampert: I believe one of the biggest challenges facing the Sheriff’s Office over the next four years will be recruiting, retaining, and supporting good employees while the demands placed on law enforcement continue to grow.
The job has changed tremendously. Deputies and jail staff are dealing not only with crime, but also with mental health crises, substance abuse, technology, school safety, complex investigations, and an increasing need for transparency and accountability. At the same time, law enforcement agencies everywhere are competing for qualified people.
As Sheriff, I would make employee retention and professional development a priority. That means providing quality training, appropriate equipment, strong leadership, and a work environment where employees know they are supported but also held to high standards. We have to invest in our people if we expect them to serve this community at a high level. Because that is what Dubois County deserves.
We must also remain prepared to adapt as technology, drug trends, and the needs of our community change. We must regularly assess our policies and programs, pursue grants and other funding opportunities, strengthen community partnerships, and ensure every taxpayer dollar is used effectively and responsibly.
Most importantly, the Sheriff’s Office must maintain the trust of the community as we face these challenges. With well-trained employees, strong leadership, accountability, and positive relationships with the people we serve, we will be prepared to meet the challenges of the next four years and well into the future.
Tim Rasche: AI that is used to commit crimes. Cyber-attacks, Identity theft, scams, and financial fraud. Anytime law enforcement finds a way to use tools to help them, criminals find more ways to use them to break the law. The number of residents who have been scammed for money is alarming, and most of the time they target the elderly. It is getting to the point where AI can mimic companies, people and steal money from bank accounts. This will have its challenges, but I intend to use a strong Public Information Officer to get info out as quickly as it comes in. I will also use training within the department to help deputies recognize AI.
Why are you uniquely qualified to be Dubois County’s Sheriff?
Tim Lampert: I believe I am uniquely qualified to serve as Dubois County Sheriff because I offer more than 36 years of experience in nearly every level of the Sheriff’s Department. I began my career as a jail officer, advanced to road deputy, and later served eight years as Chief Deputy. That progression has given me firsthand knowledge of jail operations, patrol, investigations, training, personnel supervision, administration, and the day-to-day responsibilities of leading the department.
During my time as Chief Deputy, I helped oversee department operations and successfully passed every State Board of Accounts audit, along with NCIC, IDACS, and federal audits. That record demonstrates my ability to manage the Sheriff’s Office with accountability, attention to detail, and respect for taxpayer dollars.
My qualifications also extend beyond administration. As a certified firearms instructor, I have trained officers locally and at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. I have served as a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing officer, supporting first responders after difficult and traumatic calls. As an ALICE instructor, I have prepared school staff, students, and county employees to respond during critical incidents through classroom instruction, tabletop exercises, and mock drills.
My role as a School Resource Officer and my Career and Technical Education teaching license have allowed me to educate students about criminal justice and public safety. I have also spoken with young people about drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and online safety. These responsibilities have given me a valuable perspective on prevention, school safety, and the importance of building positive relationships with the next generation.
Throughout my career, I have served on numerous community boards and worked with law enforcement agencies, schools, first responders, and local organizations. Those experiences have taught me that keeping Dubois County safe requires cooperation, strong partnerships, and leadership that brings people together.
What makes me uniquely qualified is not only the length of my service, but also the depth and range of my experience. I understand the Sheriff’s Department from the jail to the road and from training officers to managing its operations. I have a proven record of leadership, accountability, honesty, and integrity, and I am prepared to lead effectively from day one.
The Sheriff’s Department deserves a leader who has their back, and Dubois County deserves leadership it can trust. This county matters to me. We have a great county, and I want to keep it that way so that our children and grandchildren will want to come back and live here and be proud to call this place home like I have for my whole life. I am ready to lead, ready to serve, and ready to deliver for Dubois County on day one. I would appreciate your vote.
Tim Rasche: I have been with our department for almost 33 years. I worked ten years in the jail and have served as the chief jailer. I was in charge of the inmate trust fund for four years. I have served under four sheriffs and saw what worked and what failed. I had the opportunity to work with a lot of great police officers and staff. I understand Dubois County because I have lived here most of my life. I have a no-nonsense type of personality. I believe in continuous improvement. I have been dealt some life lessons that are invaluable. I am time-tested at finding solutions when they’re limited. I don’t have any problem telling someone I don’t have the answer but will find out. Last but not least, I am grateful to our citizens who stood behind us, and I won’t let you down.
How to vote
Polls are open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Election Day and there are still opportunities to vote early on Saturday and Monday (see below). Dubois County uses vote centers, so any registered county voter can vote at any open location. Voters need a valid photo ID.
