Former Trooper Waggoner Runs For Prosecutor
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Charles R. Waggoner has announced he will join the race for Kosciusko County prosecutor.
Waggoner, a Warsaw attorney and former Indiana State Police lieutenant, announced his candidacy Monday at a meeting in his home.
"Experience in a police uniform has taught me how important it is for the entire law enforcement community to work as a team," Waggoner said in a press release. "I believe the prosecutor of our county should be a part of the team. I believe that the police officers in our county must trust the prosecutor enough to want to work with the prosecutor. Law enforcement teamwork will result in a safer Kosciusko County."
Waggoner also said his experience as a state trooper gave him not only head knowledge of the criminal justice system but heart knowledge.
Waggoner's platform is based on his 20 years with the Indiana State Police and his belief in "cooperation" between law enforcement officers and the prosecutor.
"[Police] work and my work as prosecutor depend on each other," he said.
Waggoner discussed the importance of presumptive sentences in plea agreements to make sure criminals serve time for their crimes. Based on a defendant's history and the action and result of the crime, the prosecutor must decide how much time to offer in a plea agreement. Waggoner supports tough sentencing as well as trying to stop habitual offenders.
As a state trooper, Waggoner won the Indiana Insurance Institute Seymour District "Life Award" for the most drunk driving arrests when he worked in Jennings County. He was promoted to detective sergeant and worked on cases in organized crime, auto theft, drugs and protection for government officials, including President Ronald Reagan, as he helped the U.S. Secret Service.
"I learned to be responsive, reactive and prepared for any circumstance," Waggoner said.
After he attended the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va., Waggoner returned to Indiana to investigate a statewide illegal payoffs in public purchasing.
He says his work in public cases and with the Prosecuting Attorneys Council made him realize he wanted to become a prosecutor. "I wanted to be a prosecutor before I wanted to be a lawyer," Waggoner said.
He attended Indiana University School of Law as he continued to be police officer, father and husband. He continued in the Indiana State Police as a police legal adviser and a legal instructor for the Police Academy.
When Waggoner retired from the State Police in 1991, he joined Zimmer as worldwide director of corporate security. He then went into private law practice with the Lightfoot Law Office.
Waggoner also served as a Kosciusko County chief deputy prosector for 1-1/2 years. He tried a case that put a cocaine dealer in prison for 30 years. He also helped put a wife abuser in prison for 20 years, and a violent offender for 20 years.
Waggoner has been married to his wife, Tijera, a Headstart coordinator, for 23 years. The couple have three children. [[In-content Ad]]
Charles R. Waggoner has announced he will join the race for Kosciusko County prosecutor.
Waggoner, a Warsaw attorney and former Indiana State Police lieutenant, announced his candidacy Monday at a meeting in his home.
"Experience in a police uniform has taught me how important it is for the entire law enforcement community to work as a team," Waggoner said in a press release. "I believe the prosecutor of our county should be a part of the team. I believe that the police officers in our county must trust the prosecutor enough to want to work with the prosecutor. Law enforcement teamwork will result in a safer Kosciusko County."
Waggoner also said his experience as a state trooper gave him not only head knowledge of the criminal justice system but heart knowledge.
Waggoner's platform is based on his 20 years with the Indiana State Police and his belief in "cooperation" between law enforcement officers and the prosecutor.
"[Police] work and my work as prosecutor depend on each other," he said.
Waggoner discussed the importance of presumptive sentences in plea agreements to make sure criminals serve time for their crimes. Based on a defendant's history and the action and result of the crime, the prosecutor must decide how much time to offer in a plea agreement. Waggoner supports tough sentencing as well as trying to stop habitual offenders.
As a state trooper, Waggoner won the Indiana Insurance Institute Seymour District "Life Award" for the most drunk driving arrests when he worked in Jennings County. He was promoted to detective sergeant and worked on cases in organized crime, auto theft, drugs and protection for government officials, including President Ronald Reagan, as he helped the U.S. Secret Service.
"I learned to be responsive, reactive and prepared for any circumstance," Waggoner said.
After he attended the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va., Waggoner returned to Indiana to investigate a statewide illegal payoffs in public purchasing.
He says his work in public cases and with the Prosecuting Attorneys Council made him realize he wanted to become a prosecutor. "I wanted to be a prosecutor before I wanted to be a lawyer," Waggoner said.
He attended Indiana University School of Law as he continued to be police officer, father and husband. He continued in the Indiana State Police as a police legal adviser and a legal instructor for the Police Academy.
When Waggoner retired from the State Police in 1991, he joined Zimmer as worldwide director of corporate security. He then went into private law practice with the Lightfoot Law Office.
Waggoner also served as a Kosciusko County chief deputy prosector for 1-1/2 years. He tried a case that put a cocaine dealer in prison for 30 years. He also helped put a wife abuser in prison for 20 years, and a violent offender for 20 years.
Waggoner has been married to his wife, Tijera, a Headstart coordinator, for 23 years. The couple have three children. [[In-content Ad]]