Marion County Sheriff continues fight for training for deputies

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office responded to an appeal of a recent court decision that would have allowed its deputies to receive training.

The sheriff’s office has been fighting to be included in law enforcement training since a police department merger more than 15 years ago. 

In 2021 new state legislation laid out new funding and training standards, but the office was shut out. 

The MCSO filed a lawsuit, and Sheriff Kerry Forestal said a recent decision found county deputies should be included in training.

“We thought once the judge was very clear, and said, this is not just de-escalation training, this is up to 20 deputies every year to be trained by the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, ILEA. I thought the judge couldn’t have made it any clearer,” Forestal said.

But the state’s training board decided to appeal that decision. In the past, the issue has hinged on an assertion that personnel in the sheriff’s office are guards and jail officers, and not true law enforcement officers. 

Forestal says that is not true, and that the MCSO employs close to 300 deputy sheriffs who enforce Indiana laws.

The sheriff has met with judges at the new Community Justice Campus, where up to 200 prisoners may cycle through the courts every day.

“We’re going to continue to challenge this and do everything we can to protect people in Marion County,” Forestal said. “The judges were very clear to me – they want deputy sheriffs in that courtroom.”

The ILEA says it does not comment on pending litigation.

Contact WFYI city government and policy reporter Jill Sheridan at jsheridan@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @JillASheridan.