The Next Generation

Despite playing in his father's police car as a child, Aaron Rovenstine didn't decide to follow in his father's footsteps until halfway through college.

Al Rovenstine, Aaron's father, has served Kosciusko County as sheriff for 16 years. On Friday, Aaron will begin his first term as county sheriff.

"I remember being a kid playing in his car, with the sirens and stuff. I suppose that was my first exposure," Aaron said. "I went to college to go into coaching and teaching. Halfway through college, I switched my major to law enforcement."

Al said it came as a shock to him when he learned of Aaron's decision.

"It surprised me," he said. "He got out of college and came back and started looking for a law enforcement job. I thought he was going to be a teacher or coach."

As for Aaron running for sheriff, that came as another surprise to Al.

"I guess I didn't anticipate it this quickly. I felt that some day he would run for sheriff," Al said. "He grew up in a very political family a good many years so he enjoyed that side of it."

When Aaron begins his duties as sheriff, he said he hopes he can continue serving the county as well as his father did during his terms.

"I would like to, first of all, just continue to serve the people," Aaron said. "I think that, as many election victories as (my father) had, it shows he served the people of the county well.

"As far as being a cop goes, it's so many different parts. You can take his first four years and it was a small department in the old jail. He was instrumental in building (the current jail). The department grew from a small department of five to eight people to well over the 70 we have now. It kind of grew from the dark ages to the modern times, it's unbelievable from where he started to where he is now," Aaron said.

"We were just talking about that the other day. Here I am, we're going to expand the jail again, kind of where he started 20 years ago with the jail."

"He has so many accomplishments in his law enforcement career that he's always pounded it into me and I think it's just service to the people," Aaron said.

Asked what changes, if any, Aaron would make when taking office, he said, "I think there's an excitement in law enforcement about this kind of passing, not just in the sheriff's department, but also in the prosecutor's office.

"As far as major changes, we think differently on some aspects," he said. "Not that they weren't professional or unprofessional, we have some really young, educated, well-trained officers and I think we want to be a little more aggressive and a little more professional.

"My dad is a little more laid back than I am."

In order to be more aggressive and more professional, a person in charge has to set goals. Aaron said. The experience has been challenging so far and he's just getting his feet wet.

"It's a bigger challenge than I ever thought it would be. Getting people hired, getting people in place is all I can think about right now," he said.

"I'd like to beef up our investigative department. I'd like to change some things we're doing already as far as the history of some personnel. The first two months of having started has been overwhelming to me already."

If Aaron finds he is in need of advice, he has many people to whom he can turn. His captain, Jim Springer, served as sheriff for Whitley County for four years. In addition, being the son of a sheriff has its benefits and rewards. Al said he would have advice for Aaron if he ever needed it and added he thinks Aaron is already off to a good start.

"I think he's getting a good start," Al said. "He's chosen some good people, I think, for his team. It's been well thought out. I think that's a plus.

"The main thing I keep pounding into his head is to go slow and it'll all come together.

"There's a lot of new programs. There's a new prosecutor's office. Our whole criminal justice system basically is pretty young in terms of our judges not having a lot of experience with the exception of (Kosciusko Superior II Judge Jim) Jarrette. I think it's an exciting time for, probably, a lot of changes in the county in law enforcement," he said.

A new sheriff and a new prosecutor could mean much uncertainty for the county. Newly elected Prosecuting Attorney Charles Waggoner, once a state police officer himself, and Aaron will have to learn to adapt and adjust to their new positions. Aaron said he thought they could work together well.

"It's too early to tell, but I think Chuck has a good relationship with law enforcement. I think he's aware that there needs to be more communication between law enforcement and the prosecutor's office," Aaron said.

"Like a police officer, he's aware of the pitfalls of lack of communication. I think he'll do a fine job. I think law enforcement is excited about giving Chuck an opportunity also."

With his captain in place and a positive view on the relationship between the sheriff's department and the prosecuting attorney's office, Aaron may be sheriff for as many terms as his father.

Aaron isn't looking that far down the road.

"I can't really say how long, I just want to do the best job I can and make the best decisions I can," Aaron said.

"I'm just thinking about these four years. I think anyone who is sheriff for even one term is lucky."

Al said during his career, he experienced so many changes he can only wonder what the future may bring for the county and the sheriff's department.

"It's been such a great trip of continuous change throughout my career. We started out so small," he said. "I can sit here and wonder what changes the next 20 years will bring, but I take it a day at a time."

Asked about the first arrests they made as officers, Al said he couldn't remember his. Aaron said his was a public intoxication charge against a person in Milford.

Memories have been created for both Al and Aaron, as father and son and as sheriff and officer. The changes going on for both of them the last couple of months have created a whole new set of memories.

"The whole thing has been emotional for me," Aaron said.

Al said, "I could have never done what I did for that many years if there wasn't a tremendous amount of loyal and good people throughout the years."

Aaron said it's too early to tell if his own children will follow in his and their grandfather's footsteps. If they decide to, though, it will only continue a strong legacy in the annals of Kosciusko County history.