Nearly 70 people packed Warsaw City Hall Tuesday night and heard a squeaky clean discussion of issues by candidates running for sheriff of Kosciusko County.

Six of the eight candidates participated in an issue-oriented evening so polite that most candidates applauded each other after every address.

Those at the forum included Republicans Steve Knispel, Aaron Rovenstine, Walter Knox, Mike Hobbs and Sam Whitaker. Also attending was Democrat Ron Barley. Two candidates - Democrats Jeff Bronsing and Glenn Canter - skipped the event.

The event was sponsored by the local Taxpayers Action Network and included time-limited introductions and seven questions posed to all the candidates.

Knox supplied the only spark of excitement when he suggested the county's role in the drug task force was nonexistent.

"There is no task force. It's defunct," Knox said.

The county has seen a decreased role in the drug task force, but still has an officer involved in the program on a regular basis.

None of the candidates disputed Knox's claim.

Knox was also the only candidate to outwardly compliment one of his opponents when he said Whitaker had been "a good detective."

Candidates were asked to look at their goals and assess how that might affect the sheriff's budget.

Knox and Whitaker both said more detectives are needed to serve the county.

Hobbs said he believes the department has enough people and suggested the county doesn't utilize Indiana State Police enough.

Rovenstine said building needs could result in a slight tax burden, but said the sheriff has little authority in budgetary matters. Barley also said he believed the sheriff is somewhat limited.

Whitaker said a timetable should be established to build a new jail. He also said an evidence technician and a juvenile officer are needed in the department.

Knispel said the department needs to look at purchasing more vehicles.

While most candidates advocate jail expansion, Knispel was reserved about jail expansion.

Knispel, who describes himself as an ultraconservative, said the county needs to see if construction of new prisons will help alleviate overcrowding in the jail, and said he wouldn't advocate immediate expansion plans.

Candidates also were asked whether the county currently has adequate patrols. Knox, Barley, Knispel and Whitaker suggested better patrols are needed.

Knox said the southern part of the county is too often ignored. "Just because you're not a laker doesn't cut it," he said.

Hobbs said the problem could be solved with the use of districts and an improved chain of command. He and Whitaker both advocate using districts.

Whitaker suggested if officers used tape recorders, time could be saved by having typists prepare reports.

He said his proposal to have civilians and reserve officers serve civil process papers could free up more time for road patrols.

Rovenstine agreed with that idea, but said patrols are adequate.

"The funny thing with elections is that minor things get blown out of proportion," Rovenstine said.

He said he believes the coverage is adequate.

Rovenstine also suggested the use of laptop computers in squad cars could improve efficiency.

Knispel said 10 additional officers could remain busy, but questioned whether taxpayers really want to pay for it.

Barley simply said the department is understaffed.

Experience was another issue. Whitaker (a detective sergeant) and Knispel (a lieutenant) both said they have a wide variety of experiences within the department that would help them at sheriff.

Knox pointed to his experiences that include work as an undercover drug investigator, employment in a Michigan prison and police work in crime-ridden areas of Florida.

Rovenstine and Hobbs, both patrolmen, said they bring the patrolman's perspective to the sheriff's job. They said they have remained in touch with the patrolmen's needs.

Barley said his experience was limited to five years of civil defense work, security work and bounty hunting.

Another question looked at the idea of confiscating vehicles of drunk drivers, which was proposed by Kosciusko County Prosecutor David Kolbe and considered by Indiana lawmakers.

Hobbs said he would not oppose it for repeat drunk drivers.

But others objected to the impact such a program would have on spouses and families. Knispel called the idea "a bunch of hooey," and said the justice system needs to use existing laws.

"If we've got drunk drivers who are repeat offenders, then hammer 'em," Knispel said.

Whitaker and Knox both said confiscations should first focus on drug dealers.

Rovenstine expressed great concern about programs in which the government starts taking property away from people and said such an idea should be a "last resort."

Barley said judges need to be tougher on drunk drivers.

Candidates also were asked for their reactions to plans by the county to work with a private firm that would construct a multi-county juvenile detention center in Pierceton.

While most candidates said they supported it, Barley said part of the juvenile problem could be solved if youngsters had more activities to occupy their time.

Knispel questioned whether the proposal would actually provide much of a savings compared to the current program in which officers escort juveniles to facilities outside north central Indiana.

He said there appeared to be a rush to make a decision. [[In-content Ad]]