Marion County Sheriff’s Office creates new policies after deputy’s death

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office announced new policy changes Wednesday in light of the recent killing of Deputy John Durm.

Durm died on July 10 after a detainee at the jail, Orlando Mitchell, allegedly strangled him with his handcuff chain and tried to escape the Adult Detention Center. Mitchell was charged with murder, robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and escape. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office is seeking the death penalty against him.

Durm was returning to the Adult Detention Center after taking Mitchell to a medical appointment at Eskenazi Hospital. Mitchell was wearing handcuffs, a belly chain and leg shackles. On a question and answer sheet distributed to members of the media, MCSO said it is assumed that Mitchell was able to slip the belly chain off.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies will not be allowed to transport detainees to medical visits alone. There will be stricter guidelines around medical conditions that require off-site care. Detainees charged with murder will wear red jumpsuits to distinguish them from others.

Marion County Sheriff Kerry Forestal said the office has been facing significant staffing shortages, which is likely why Durm escorted Mitchell to his appointment alone.

The sheriff’s office said the MCSO is down 75 detention deputies and 75 deputies.

“It wasn't understaffing to kill John Durm,” Forestal said. “It was not faulty equipment that killed him, nor was it complacency. It was Orlando Mitchell. And for that I believe Orlando Mitchell will be held responsible.”

Two deputies were fired from the department on Aug. 23 for “substandard performance” the day Durm was killed.

Surveillance footage of the incident was shown to members of the media Wednesday, with plans to release it to the larger public. However, a court order now prohibits it from being shared.

According to the sheriff’s office, staff members were “watching the cameras in real time during the attack.” Forestal said under the best circumstances, four people monitor the surveillance cameras throughout the building.

Contact WFYI criminal justice reporter Katrina Pross at kpross@wfyi.org. Pross is a Corps Member of Report for America, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project.