Former two-term sheriff William “Rocky” Goshert was chosen by a Republican caucus on Wednesday night to fill the remaining term as sheriff after Aaron Rovenstine was forced out of office following a criminal conviction.

Goshert topped five other candidates and was chosen on the fifth ballot, topping Indiana State Police Trooper Kyle Dukes.

Afterward, he made it clear that any sense of victory Wednesday was bittersweet in light of the controversial conviction of Rovenstine, a close ally.

“I don’t take great joy in this because this came at a heavy price for a lot of people. It did a lot of damage to several families and this community,” Goshert said. “I won, but it was at a heavy cost.”

The list of choices for 65 precinct committeemen was pared down through several ballots. Louis “Bill” Brown, Kelly Prater and Jordan Foreman were set aside after early balloting, leaving Goshert, Dukes and Joshua Spangle in the final two ballots.

Several candidates spoke of the need to restore the public trust after Rovenstine was removed from office last month.

Goshert cast himself as the best person positioned to “smooth over” the troubles in the department and relations with Warsaw Police Department.

The Rovenstine investigation put a spotlight on an ongoing feud between the sheriff’s department and Warsaw police.

In a post-caucus news conference, Goshert pledged to talk with representatives from Warsaw in hopes of improving relations.

Caucus candidates included three from outside the sheriff’s department as some believed an outsider would be best suited to take the reins of the department.

Goshert appeared to have the support of personnel within the sheriff's department.

During the caucus, Mike Klondaris, speaking for Goshert, touted a petition of support for Goshert that included the names of 73 people from within the department. The department employs 105 people.

Goshert also made a point during his presentation to thank Aaron and his father, Al Rovenstine, also a former sheriff, for everything they taught him over the years.

“For all those things, Al and Aaron, I will always be grateful to you,” he said.

After the announcement of his victory by county GOP chairman Mike Ragan, Goshert gave a very short speech in which he promised to “smooth out” issues surrounding the department.

He was then greeted with hugs and handshakes from many supporters and then signed paperwork that set the stage to transition him from serving as interim sheriff to one who will fill out the remaining 19 months as sheriff.

Goshert then addressed a large number of media seeking comment and again repeated that he “probably” will not run for sheriff next spring, but did not rule it out.

He said his selection would allow him to “smooth this all out” over the next 19 months while others have a chance to run for the office next year.

He predicted next year’s primary could be wide open and attract even more candidates than the six who sought the post Wednesday.

In his address to precinct committee members, Goshert acknowledged “a lot of hurt and frustration” in the last two years and said he was the best person to lead the department.

He downplayed the supposed lack of cooperation with other departments and listed recent examples of agencies working together. He also stressed fiscal responsibility during his eight years as sheriff.

In his presentation, Dukes, an Indiana State Police trooper, addressed what he called a “severely broken working relationship” with police agencies in the county.

“Every day that goes by that our police departments are not working together puts you, your friends and our families in jeopardy,” Dukes said.

He pledged to have an open door policy and work on a 10-year plan to improve the department.

Dukes also spoke of the need to focus on fighting the heroin, meth and prescription drug problems that he said are “out of control.”

Spangle, a detective in the sheriff’s department, told the audience that “some change is needed.”

While conceding that “emotions are raw” in the department, he also warned of the dangers of bringing in somebody from outside of the department.

“I believe if an outsider is selected at this time, you will be lighting the wick of a powder keg that will explode and further damage an already fractured law enforcement community,” Spangle said. “I am the change you are looking for. I am the next generation of law enforcement leadership in Kosciusko County.”

Louis “Bill”?Brown, a retired state police officer who now works for a state agency, said he believed “God will dictate” what happens. He said there was a “lot of pain in the county,” and a need for healing.

Kelly Prater, the assistant director of work release for the sheriff’s department, focused on his varied background in business, the jail and court security. He addressed the problem of juvenile crime and said the department needs to be more “people friendly.”

Foreman, a former Warsaw police detective, called for change and a re-establishment of the public trust.

The caucus process took about two hours. More than 120 people attended the meeting and spectators began showing up at the courthouse in Warsaw nearly an hour before the start in hopes of getting a seat. Some people were apparently turned away because of fire code limitations.

The event also attracted two state Republican representatives as well as media from South Bend, Fort Wayne and Goshen.

The selection closed a chapter in the sheriff’s department history, where the Rovenstine name had been part of the department for 37 years.

The Rovenstines remain active in county politics, though.

Austin Rovenstine, son of Aaron, serves as secretary of the county Republican Party and participated in the caucus along with his grandfather.

Austin Rovenstine acknowledged the circumstances were awkward, but said he thought the caucus decision “was a good outcome for the department.”

“I thought Mike Klondaris put it well when he said healing is painful and it takes time. It’s not going to happen immediately. Any candidate who thought it would happen immediately was fantasizing. But healing will happen,” he said.