Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
"We're a small department and we're growing," said Sam Whitaker about the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department.
He ought to know.
Whitaker has served the force for 26 years and would like to continue with the force directing it as sheriff.
Whitaker, 55, is announcing his candidacy for the post currently occupied by Aaron Rovenstine. Rovenstine has served two consecutive terms and cannot return to the ballot in 2006.
"My goal is to be the county's next sheriff and to use my leadership skills and experience to give more back to the community," the Republican said.
A lieutenant with the KCSD, Whitaker sees methamphetamine use and manufacture as a very serious problem for the county.
"Have you seen before and after pictures of someone on meth?" he asked. "The difference is unbelievable The problem is there's no experimenting with it, like with other drugs, because it's so addicting. The user can't get away from it.
"That addiction and the fact it can be made from household, ordinary ingredients makes it even harder to stop. You have to keep the public informed so kids and adults don't try it."
Whitaker has worked in all areas of the sheriff's office and currently is assigned to the prosecuting attorney's office as an investigator.
He started as a reserve officer in 1979 and was hired as a patrolman in 1980. He began the drug task force in 1987, directed that unit and was responsible for the budget.
He's had the opportunity to work with all local and state agencies and feels he has a well-rounded view of the challenges facing law enforcement in the future.
Second on his list of concerns about public welfare is computer and Internet crimes.
"All letters, e-mails, Internet sites visited, every key stroke is still in your computer. We can trace sex crimes, tell if someone is using a computer to scam someone else, that's all there."
Again Whitaker said the public needs to be knowledge able about "computer crimes" and the sheriff's department has responded to that need by sending two detectives for advanced computer training.
Whitaker's third area of concern is crimes committed by youth.
"It's tough to deal with juveniles and hard to find places to put them. We're at the mercy of available housing. The center being built in Pierceton will take off some pressure.
"Juveniles commit a large percentage of crime. Parents can't stop everything from happening but they need to know where their children are and who their friends are."
If elected, Whitaker doesn't plan to make huge changes to the sheriff's department because he said he already works with good people.
"The sheriff's department has great people in it, from the patrol division to the work release staff to the jailers. I want to provide the same services for citizens and maintain the integrity and respect of the sheriff's office."
Whitaker and his wife, Jennifer, live near Claypool They have five children and five grandchildren. Whitaker has lived in Kosciusko County most of his life. His family moved to Silver Lake from Wabash when he was very young. The family moved to Warsaw where he attended Warsaw Community High School.
Dane Miller is Whitaker's campaign chairman and Ernie Wiggins is campaign treasurer.
