Office of the Chief

MesserKeith Messer| Police Chief

Date of Hire: 05/12/2003

 
Education: 1996 Graduate of South Decatur High School;  1993 Graduate of IVY Tech (Columbus, IN) in automotive technology. 

Rank: Chief (Appointed 03/28/2021)

Other ranks (if applicable):  Sergeant 2009; Lieutenant 2018.

 Specialties:  First officer in department history to record 5,000 traffic stops and still ranks in the top five for: arrest made, case reports, traffic stops, tickets, and warnings issued. "Hard Charger" award recipient; field training officer (FTO); team leader for tactical operations; training coordinator; department armorer; currently department firearms instructor; departments Operation Pull Over (OPO) coordinator; nominated for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Academy (on waiting list).  

 Accomplishments:   Awarded a Life Saving Medal in 2014.  He has helped receive grants for increasing patrol activists, assist with the purchase of body armor for officers, to purchase laptops and E-ticket equipment for the patrol division.  Messer helped earn recognition from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute for efforts to save lives on Indiana roadways. He has had the privilege to train with all levels of law enforcement and gained practical and leadership related skills from countless individuals from all over the county.

He has worked closely with the old Chief Webster on budgets, standard operating procedures (S.O.P.), department transparency, coordinated hiring process, assisted with safety board and council meetings, assisted Mayor as needed, and other administrative duties. 

Messer's goal is to foster good relations with the community, working together to decrease crime for a better quality of life. Messer will continue with the mayor and city leaders, continuing to support the goals of the city and to uphold the goals of the agency. He hopes to continue being able to serve the community through diligence and trustworthiness. 

He has a great working relationship with outside agencies and department heads such as; Jennings County Sheriff's Department, Jennings County Dispatch, Jennings County Prosecutors Office, Division, of Child Services and others.

Chief Messer is married to his wife, Natalie, and has two sons, Wyatt and Saban. Both sons are active with sports, St. Mary's Church, and in the community. Natalie is employed by St. Mary's School working as the schools administrative assistant. Messer is a Knights of Columbus council #1631, Fraternal Order of Police (F.O.P.), and is a Masonic member, Butlerville Lodge #219. Messer enjoys spending time with his family, riding his motorcycle, and spending time with family dog Bo.