Sheriff’s Merit Board Approves Jamasyn Virgil As Merit Deputy
April 11, 2025 at 3:41 p.m.
Kosciusko County Sheriff's Merit Board approved the hiring of a merit deputy and several promotions during a meeting Friday.
Jamasyn Virgil, who currently works as a Kosciusko County Jail corporal, was hired as a merit deputy. Board members described Virgil as enthusiastic about the job and said they were impressed by him.
Six promotions were also approved, including Kreg Kuhn to detective sergeant, Justin Smith to traffic administration sergeant, Andrew Hochstetler and Sam Weaver to patrol sergeants, and Logan Pitts and Tyler Stringfellow to patrol corporals.
Kosciusko Community Recovery Program Resource Navigator Shanna Wallen also provided statistics for the program. Since July 2024, KCRP has had 81 participants. Of those individuals, only four have returned, with three being in 2025.
"That's only 5%," said Wallen. "I'm really, really pleased with those numbers. I did do some digging into the four people and they're frequent fliers. They have 10-plus charges, and I see that as an opportunity to invest in them more and help them get on the right track."
Wallen also said the jail's two peer coaches are seeing a total of 48 inmates. A Bowen Health therapist providing individualized counseling sessions is also coming into the jail twice a week.
"I couldn't be more pleased with where we're at," said Kosciusko County Sheriff Jim Smith about the program. "Last July, we were averaging 250 inmates. Last January, we were pushing 300. Today, we're at 196. That's huge, that's huge for the taxpayers."
Smith also told the board about the jail transitioning to Kellwell Food Management for meal service operations for the inmate population.
"We literally have been able to cut our costs in half," said Smith. "It's something we're going to continue to monitor. By the program Kellwell offers, they buy everything in bulk. We're able to get their cost on the food."
The board also heard about a new position for a garage mechanic, who will work on vehicles owned by the Kosciusko County Highway Department and Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office.
The board's next meeting is at 11 a.m. May 8.
Kosciusko County Sheriff's Merit Board approved the hiring of a merit deputy and several promotions during a meeting Friday.
Jamasyn Virgil, who currently works as a Kosciusko County Jail corporal, was hired as a merit deputy. Board members described Virgil as enthusiastic about the job and said they were impressed by him.
Six promotions were also approved, including Kreg Kuhn to detective sergeant, Justin Smith to traffic administration sergeant, Andrew Hochstetler and Sam Weaver to patrol sergeants, and Logan Pitts and Tyler Stringfellow to patrol corporals.
Kosciusko Community Recovery Program Resource Navigator Shanna Wallen also provided statistics for the program. Since July 2024, KCRP has had 81 participants. Of those individuals, only four have returned, with three being in 2025.
"That's only 5%," said Wallen. "I'm really, really pleased with those numbers. I did do some digging into the four people and they're frequent fliers. They have 10-plus charges, and I see that as an opportunity to invest in them more and help them get on the right track."
Wallen also said the jail's two peer coaches are seeing a total of 48 inmates. A Bowen Health therapist providing individualized counseling sessions is also coming into the jail twice a week.
"I couldn't be more pleased with where we're at," said Kosciusko County Sheriff Jim Smith about the program. "Last July, we were averaging 250 inmates. Last January, we were pushing 300. Today, we're at 196. That's huge, that's huge for the taxpayers."
Smith also told the board about the jail transitioning to Kellwell Food Management for meal service operations for the inmate population.
"We literally have been able to cut our costs in half," said Smith. "It's something we're going to continue to monitor. By the program Kellwell offers, they buy everything in bulk. We're able to get their cost on the food."
The board also heard about a new position for a garage mechanic, who will work on vehicles owned by the Kosciusko County Highway Department and Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office.
The board's next meeting is at 11 a.m. May 8.