Dixon speaks to Reporter’s readers

By AIDA KARIM
news@readthereporter.com

Editor’s note: The Reporter’s attempts to contact the Democratic candidate for a similar interview were unsuccessful.

As Hamilton County grows, Dixon is looking to address what he says are the toughest challenges facing the sheriff’s department.

Republican Dustin Dixon shares the ballot with Democrat Charles Hollowell for Hamilton County Sheriff this midterm.

Dixon has over 25 years of experience in the sheriff’s office. He started his journey as an entry-level patrol deputy. Gradually, Dixon began to work himself up the ranks, serving in “nearly every job and every type of assignment.”

Dixon is endorsed by all four FOP lodges (police unions) in Hamilton County, as well as with the firefighters union.

“I understand the operations of the department,” Dixon said. “I understand the folks we work with on a daily basis from four cities, three towns, eight other police departments, and nine other fire departments. Those relationships are really what makes you successful in public safety.”

Changes in Hamilton County

Dixon told The Reporter the jail population is continuing to increase. As a result, the medical, transport, and educational services the county provides are under strain.

“Despite some of the violent crimes, I still say Noblesville, Carmel, and Fishers are all still very safe places, but they are not the Noblesville, Fishers, or Carmel of 20 years ago or even 10 years ago,” Dixon said. “We are seeing some more violent crimes and some more bad actors coming into this area.”

According to Dixon, a disproportionate 40 percent of Hamilton County’s inmate population has Marion County addresses. He said the sheriff’s office needs to be proactive and make sure they have the right mentality as far as holding criminals accountable if they commit violent crimes in Hamilton County.

Dixon told The Reporter he wants to start both a traffic enforcement unit and a fugitive unit in 2027.

Dixon said there are a number of active, or “outstanding,” warrants in Hamilton County, so assembling a fugitive unit would ease the process of tracking down those individuals.

“We’re already looking at additional software in the jail that will make it easier to get programs and education tools to [inmates] and help them communicate with their family, friends, and attorneys,” he said.

Traffic enforcement

According to Dixon, the most frequent complaints he receives on a weekly basis are traffic issues, such as people speeding and disregarding traffic signs. Right now, the complaints go to the deputy working that beat. The deputy works a 100 square-mile beat in between taking calls and trying to do proactive patrols.

Dixon said 146th Street from Allisonville Road all the way to Boone County is county jurisdiction. He said the department witnesses a significant amount of crashes in this area.

“It doesn’t typically get resolved real well because there’s just not a lot of time and attention put into it,” he said. “This unit would be two deputies and it would be their full-time job, 40 hours a week to deal with traffic complaints, traffic issues, and see what the data shows.”

Building a better department

When asked what he sees as the biggest issues facing the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Dixon said that, if elected, the community can expect to see a renewed focus on the retention and recruitment of employees.

Dixon said while Hamilton County is not struggling with recruiting and retention as much as other localities, he acknowledged that it remains a problem for all law enforcement agencies. He also said recruiting is important, but retention should be a greater priority.

“If we can retain the right employees, it makes recruiting a whole lot easier if we don’t have to recruit as many – on a yearly basis – as we are right now,” he said.

According to Dixon, serving as sheriff is the next natural step for him. He said he would like to “lead the agency and hopefully make it a bit better than it is for the next generation.”

Early voting is underway and you can no longer register to vote in this election, but you can check your voting status at indianavoters.in.gov. You also find information on voting in Hamilton County at hamiltoncounty.in.gov/222/Current-Election-Information.