On July 18, the Noblesville Police Department (NPD) held a ceremony to officially swear in four of their newest police officers. The ceremony took place in the council chambers located at City Hall. In attendance for the event were family members, friends, members of the community, government officials and officers of the police department. Chief Kevin Jowitt officiated the ceremony.
The newly sworn officers are Stephen Forner, Matthew Lohrey, Brent Cunningham and Eric Ditzler. They were officially hired on Feb. 13, 2017.
Stephen Forner
Stephen was born in Aurora, Ill., in 1987. He graduated from Hamilton Southeastern High School in 2006. He attended and graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Financial Planning & Counseling in 2010. Stephen enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard in 2011 and currently holds the rank of 1st Lieutenant. His hobbies include playing and watching golf, baseball, football and basketball.
Matthew Lohrey
Matthew was born in Anderson in 1994. He graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in McCordsville in 2012. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp in 2012 and was on active until 2016 at which time he was honorably discharged. While in the military, Matthew attained the rank of Corporal and served as a combat engineer. His hobbies include baseball and woodworking.
Brent Cunningham
Brent was born in Kokomo in 1984. He graduated from Northwestern High School in Kokomo in 2003. Brent attended and graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 2009. Brent’s hobbies include disc golf, exercise, and target shooting.
Eric Ditzler
Eric was born in Marion, Ind. in 1987. He graduated from Huntington North High School in Huntington, Ind. in 2006. Eric attended and graduated from Ivy Tech Community College in Ft. Wayne and Community College of the Air Force with Associate of Applied Science degrees in General Studies and Criminal Justice. Eric enlisted in the Air Force National Guard in 2008 and was honorably discharged in 2015 at the rank of Staff Sergeant. Eric’s hobbies include running and weightlifting.
Shortly after being hired, the officers departed for the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield where they spent 15 weeks receiving training in a variety of areas to include criminal and traffic law, firearms, emergency vehicle operations, human behavior, physical tactics and EMS awareness to name just a few. The officers successfully graduated from the law enforcement academy on June 16, 2017.
Since graduating from the law enforcement academy, the officers have received in-service training and will start the 16-week Field Training and Evaluation Program this week. During this next phase of training, the officers will be assigned to several different Field Training Officers who will evaluate the performance of the new officers as they learn to apply their training from the academy to the day-to-day functions of being a police officer. After successful completion of the Field Training and Evaluation Program, the officers will then be certified to work by themselves in a solo-capacity role and will be assigned to a shift within the Patrol Division.
When all is said and done, the officers will have accumulated more than 39 weeks or 1,560 hours of training prior to being released to work as a police officer for the City of Noblesville.
NPD promotes three officers to rank of Sergeant
On July 18, NPD held a ceremony to promote three officers. The ceremony took place in the council chambers located at City Hall. In attendance for the event were family members, friends, members of the community, government officials and officers of the police department. Chief Kevin Jowitt officiated the ceremony.
Chief Jowitt promoted Detective Mike Sadler, Patrolmen Jordan Granger and Greg Kehl to the rank of Sergeant. Sgt. Sadler’s promotion was effective on March 13, 2017 while Sgt. Granger and Kehl’s became effective on July 17, 2017.
Sadler
Mike Sadler
Sgt. Sadler was hired by NPD on Aug. 11, 1997. Prior to his promotion, Sgt. Sadler served in the Criminal Investigation Division as a detective. Sgt. Sadler will continue to serve in the Criminal Investigation Division as a supervisor of detectives.
Granger
Jordan Granger
Sgt. Granger was hired by NPD on Aug. 26, 2010. Prior to his promotion, Sgt. Granger served in the Patrol Division as a patrol officer. Sgt. Granger will continue to serve in the Patrol Division as a field supervisor.
Kehl
Greg Kehl
Sgt. Kehl was hired by NPD on Sept. 10, 2007. Prior to his promotion, Sgt. Kehl served in the Patrol Division as a patrol officer. Sgt. Kehl will remain in the Patrol Division as a field supervisor.
Advancement to the rank of sergeant is a merit promotion within the Noblesville Police Department. Patrol officers and detectives are eligible to apply for the sergeant promotion process. Interested candidates must submit to a formal evaluation process. The process is comprised of a number of components to include a written examination, oral interview, assessment exercises, and a review of past performance. The process is extremely competitive and is administered every two years in order to establish an eligibility list. A one-year probationary period is required of all officers who are promoted.