Ten of the state’s top sheriffs have been re-elected as trustees of the Indiana Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch, a non-profit academy under development to mentor future law enforcement officers, bond with at-risk kids and comfort young witnesses and victims of crime. Two of those sheriffs serve southeastern Indiana
- Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers
- Ripley County Sheriff Jeff Cumberworth
Most have helped lead the project since its inception in 2016. Last year, the volunteer group had raised enough private donations to purchase a West Central Indiana property featuring three lakes and 62 acres of rolling woods.
A former veterinary clinic on the Youth Ranch property was remodeled and expanded to become the Search and Rescue Training Center for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security – providing lease income to help sustain the Youth Ranch and K-9 and drone training experiences for visiting teens. Several unsafe, unwanted barns were demolished with the help of Indiana Department of Correction inmate workers and personnel, as well as MacAllister Machinery. An existing five-bedroom home is being transformed into a Sheriffs’ Lodge and Conference Center with the help of Mohawk Flooring, Sherwin-Williams and Ashley Furniture Homestores.
This fall, the ISYR board of sheriffs and former sheriffs across Indiana is establishing a group of Student Advisors For Educating Tomorrow’s Youth (S.A.F.E.T.Y.) Leaders, who will help advise the sheriffs and deputies as they determine programs and policies for the not-for-profit training retreat.
S.A.F.E.T.Y. Leaders will be middle and high school students who have attended previous camps offered by police, sheriffs and fire departments. In addition to meeting new friends from across the state, S.A.F.E.T.Y. Leaders will able to voluntarily participate in K-9, drone and safe-ATV training. Nearby hotel lodging will be provided, if needed, for the Saturday events. This year’s S.A.F.E.T.Y. Leaders’ meetings will be sponsored by Boar’s Head Provision Company of Henry County
