New Carmel officers head to state academy this month

On Thursday, the Carmel Police Department officially welcomed eight new police officers during a swearing-in ceremony at the Carmel Police Department Headquarters.

Starting in mid-January Officers Chavez, Schuck, Meinhardt, Bess and Murphy will spend 16 weeks in basic training at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. Upon completion of their ILEA training, they will return to Carmel for additional training, including a 16-week field training program.

(From left) Nathan Schuck, Douglas Roskowski, Jacob Harrison, Branden Owens, Austin Meinhardt, Jennifer Chavez, Jade Bess, Jerek Murphy and Chief Jim Barlow. (Photo provided)

Officers Roskowski, Harrison and Owens have previous police experience and will start in-house training immediately.

Officer Schuck comes to the Carmel Police Department from Fishers. He is a graduate of Southern Illinois University. He previously worked as a personal trainer.

Officer Roskowski comes to the Carmel Police Department from Noblesville. He is a graduate of Indiana University. He previously worked as a police officer in Lawrence.

Officer Harrison comes to the Carmel Police Department from Terre Haute. He is a graduate of Indiana State University. He previously worked for the Indiana State University Police Department.

Officer Owens comes to the Carmel Police Department from Lebanon. He is a graduate of Brownsburg High School. He previously worked for the Boone County Sheriff’s Department as a Deputy.

Officer Meinhardt comes to the Carmel Police Department from Noblesville. He is a graduate of Hamilton Heights High School. He previously worked as a corrections officer at the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department.

Officer Chavez comes to the Carmel Police Department from Hammond. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland University College. She previously worked as a dispatcher for the Lake County, Ind. Sheriff’s Department.

Officer Bess comes to the Carmel Police Department from Sheridan. He is a graduate of Indiana University Kokomo. He previously served in the United States Air Force as a full time Security Forces Officer.

Officer Murphy comes to the Carmel Police Department from Indianapolis. He is a graduate of Lockport Township High School in Lockport, Ill. He previously served in the United States Marine Corps.