About Us
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Sheriff  |
Sheriff Chris Lane was elected on November 8, 2022 as the 59th Sheriff of Bartholomew County after running unopposed in both the primary and general election. He was sworn in for his first term in office on December 30, 2022, and immediately set to work on the priorities he has outlined for his term in office.
Sheriff Lane has dedicated over 30 years to law enforcement. During this time, he has served in a variety of positions, including patrol, supervision, administration, and investigations. He was appointed as Chief Deputy of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department from 2015 - 2022. Sheriff Lane is also a 2019 graduate of the FBI National Academy, joining an elite group that makes up less than 1% of America’s law enforcement community.
Sheriff Lane is steadfast in his dedication to both the community and the law enforcement officers under his command. During his term, he has prioritized drug enforcement, efficiency and innovation, employee retention, mental and physical resilience of law enforcement, and partnerships with community and law enforcement organizations. Sheriff Lane and his team will continue to work with the Columbus Police Department, Indiana State Police, DEA, FBI, the local fire departments, first responders, and prosecutors. He will continue to provide a law enforcement voice for community organizations and agencies in an effort to strengthen Community Policing.
Sheriff Lane resides in Bartholomew County with his wife, Connie, and two adult children, David and Blake.
Duties of the Sheriff
Ind. Code § 36-2-13-5 : Indiana Code - Section 36-2-13-5: Duties
(a) The sheriff shall:
(1) arrest without process persons who commit an offense within the sheriff's view, take them before a court of the county having jurisdiction, and detain them in custody until the cause of the arrest has been investigated;
(2) suppress breaches of the peace, calling the power of the county to the sheriff's aid if necessary;
(3) pursue and jail felons;
(4) execute all process directed to the sheriff by legal authority;
(5) serve all process directed to the sheriff from a court or the county executive;
(6) attend and preserve order in all courts of the county;
(7) take care of the county jail and the prisoners there;
(8) take photographs, fingerprints, and other identification data as the sheriff shall prescribe of persons taken into custody for felonies or misdemeanors; and
(9) on or before January 31 and June 30 of each year, provide to the department of correction the average daily cost of incarcerating a prisoner in the county jail as determined under the methodology developed by the department of correction under IC 11-10-13.
(b) A person who:
(1) refuses to be photographed;
(2) refuses to be fingerprinted;
(3) withholds information; or
(4) gives false information;
as prescribed in subsection (a)(8), commits a Class C misdemeanor.
(c) The sheriff may supervise and inspect all pawnbrokers, vendors, junkshop keepers, cartmen, expressmen, dealers in secondhand merchandise, intelligence offices, and auctions. The sheriff may authorize any deputy in writing to exercise the same powers.
As added by Acts 1980, P.L.212, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.344-1983, SEC.1; P.L.85-2004, SEC.12; P.L.63-2008, SEC.5.
Leadership Team
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Major John Martoccia
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Captain Chris Roberts
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Captain Brandon Slate
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Captain Dave Steinkoenig
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Vicki Thompson
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Jeffrey L. Beck
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Major John Martoccia
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Captain Chris Roberts
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Captain Brandon Slate
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Captain Dave Steinkoenig
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Vicki Thompson
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Jeffrey L. Beck
Major John Martoccia
Major John Martoccia, Jail Commander
Major Martoccia’s responsibilties include all operational facets of the Bartholomew County Jail including compliance with numerous federal, state, and local mandates, overseeing a staff of fifty (50) full-time and part-time corrections officers and clerical personnel, support services, and daily operations that ensures the proper care and secure custody of BCJ inmates.
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Captain Chris Roberts
Captain Chris Roberts, Commander of Detectives Bureau
Captain Christopher Roberts is the Commander of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Detectives Bureau. Captain Roberts has served in many capacities at the Sheriff’s Office and has completed extensive training in a wide variety of disciplines. He is trained in SWAT procedures and recognized as an authority in technology matters. Roberts has also served as leader of the Dive Team, Deputy Commander of Water Rescue, and Coordinator of the Domestic Violence Project.
Roberts is a graduate of Columbus North High School and Vincennes University with an Associate’s degree in Law Enforcement.
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Captain Brandon Slate
Captain Brandon Slate, Division of Administrative Services
Capt. Brandon Slate has worked in several areas of the Sheriff’s Office: in the Jail as a Corrections Officer and as a Merit Deputy in the Road Division, Detective Bureau, and Narcotics Division.
Capt. Slate was promoted to Sergeant in October, 2012, and worked as a 3rd shift supervisor. In January 2015, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant as the Deputy Road Commander.
On May 4, 2015, Slate joined the Sheriff’s Leadership Team as Captain of Administrative Services.
Capt. Slate is a graduate of Columbus North High School. He and his wife, Ashley Slate, have two daughters. Capt. Slate’s parents are Mark and Denise Slate.
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Captain Dave Steinkoenig
Captain Dave Steinkoenig, Commander of Road Patrol
Captain Steinkoenig is a long-time resident of Bartholomew County. He is a graduate of Columbus North High School, the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and a veteran of the United States Air Force. He has served in several capacities with the Sheriff’s Office: Road Division, Detectives Division, and, for 7 years as a Sergeant in the Narcotics Division.
Steinkoenig is a firearms instructor, Taser instructor, a member of the Dive and Water Rescue Team, and a member of the Bartholomew County Substance Abuse Council.
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Vicki Thompson
Vicki Thompson, Matron
As Matron, Vicki has numerous and diverse responsibilities and must coordinate complex activities. Examples include: tax warrant collections, bookkeeping, supervision of BCSO’s Records Division, processing payroll and managing the budget for the Sheriff’s Office. Vicki also has an active role in employee policies and procedures as well as employee benefits.
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Jeffrey L. Beck
Jeffrey L. Beck, Attorney
Sheriff-elect Matt Myers appointed Jeffrey L. Beck as the attorney for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office.
Beck, a partner in the law firm of Beck Rocker, P.C., is a native of Bartholomew County. He is a 1993 graduate of DePauw University and a 1997 graduate of the Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis.
He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Indiana State Bar Association, the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association and the Bartholomew County Bar Association.
“Jeff’s experience, knowledge of the law, knowledge of our community and uncompromising standard for excellence makes him highly qualified for this position”, said Myers.
“He [Jeff] is a dedicated professional who will provide sound legal counsel and maintain the integrity of the Sheriff’s Office. He is a great addition to my administration and I look forward to working closely with him”, said Myers.
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Community Programs
Neighborhood Watch
Neighborhood Watch is one of the oldest and most effective crime prevention programs in the country, bringing citizens together with law enforcement to deter crime and make communities safer.
Sponsored by the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA), Neighborhood Watch can trace its roots back to the days of colonial settlements, when night watchmen patrolled the streets. The modern version of Neighborhood Watch was developed in response to requests from sheriffs and police chiefs who were looking for a crime prevention program that would involve citizens and address an increasing number of burglaries.
Launched in 1972, Neighborhood Watch counts on citizens to organize themselves and work with law enforcement to keep a trained eye and ear on their communities, while demonstrating their presence at all times of day and night. (The program took off quickly: in just ten years, NSA data showed that 12 percent of the population was involved in a Neighborhood Watch.) Neighborhood Watch works because it reduces opportunities for crime to occur; it does not rely on altering or changing the criminal’s behavior or motivation.
Tips:
- Work with the police or sheriff’s office. These agencies are critical to a Watch group’s credibility and are the source of necessary information and training.
- Link up with your victims’ services office to get your members trained in helping victims of crime.
- Hold regular meetings to help residents get to know each other and to decide upon program strategies and activities.
- Consider linking with an existing organization, such as a citizens’ association, community development office, tenants’ association, or housing authority. They may be able to provide an existing infrastructure you can use.
- Canvass door-to-door to recruit members.
- Ask people who seldom leave their homes to be “window watchers,” looking out for children and reporting any unusual activities in the neighborhood.
- Translate crime and drug prevention materials into Spanish or other languages needed by non-English speakers in your community. If necessary, have a translator at meetings.
- Sponsor a crime and drug prevention fair at a church hall, temple, shopping mall, or community center.
- Gather the facts about crime in your neighborhood. Check police reports, conduct victimization surveys, and learn residents’ perceptions about crimes. Often, residents’ opinions are not supported by facts, and accurate information can reduce the fear of crime.
- Physical conditions like abandoned cars or overgrown vacant lots contribute to crime. Sponsor cleanups, encourage residents to beautify the area, and ask them to turn on outdoor lights at night.
- Work with small businesses to repair rundown storefronts, clean up littered streets, and create jobs for young people.
- Start a block parent program to help children cope with emergencies while walking to and from school or playing in the area.
- Emphasize that Watch groups are not vigilantes and should not assume the role of the police. Their duty is to ask neighbors to be alert, observant, and caring—and to report suspicious activity or crimes immediately to the police.
D.A.R.E.
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For 25 years, the Bartholomew County Sheriff's Office has been actively involved with the Drug Abuse Resistance Program (D.A.R.E. - Drug Abuse Resistance Education). The collaborative effort with the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation has achieved a high level of success.
Deputy Pendleton began her career with the Sheriff’s Office as a Reserve Deputy before becoming a Merit Deputy in 2009. In 2011, she was BCSO’s K-9 Officer and, in 2015, she became the Sheriff’s DARE Officer.
Deputy Nick Martoccia began his career with the Sheriff’s Office as a Merit Deputy in 2009. He is a graduate of Columbus East High School and holds an Associate’s Degree in Law Enforcement from Vincennes University.
Deputy Andrew Whipker began his career with the Sheriff’s Office as a Merit Deputy in 2015. Prior to his service with BCSO, Whipker served as a Probation Officer with the Greenwood, IN Probation Department. He is a graduate of Columbus East High School and holds a Criminal Justice degree from IUPUC.
In addition to their DARE duties, Deputies Pendleton, Martoccia and Whipker will continue to perform a variety of law enforcement duties including those of responding to calls for service.
Sheriff Matthew A. Myers said: “our DARE deputies perform a variety of duties”. “In addition to their duties in law enforcement, they will instruct Bartholomew County students and other youth in the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program and coordinate program activities with local school administrators, teachers, parents and peers”.
School Resource Officers (SRO)
The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office performs hundreds of school security checks each year. Now, the Sheriff’s Office has two uniformed school resource officers in Bartholomew County Schools.
Deputy Jessica Pendleton is working with Flatrock Hawcreek schools and Deputy Teancum Clark is working with Bartholomew Consolidated schools. Both deputies are veteran law enforcement officers.
“We work closely with BCSC and Flatrock Hawcreek and our schools have a very good Safety Plan but we still need the community’s help.” “We don’t want to cause undue alarm but we all need to do everything we can to keep our children safe”, said Bartholomew County Sheriff Matthew A. Myers.
Bartholomew County Triad
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Bartholomew County Triad is an organization under the auspices of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office. Volunteers assist seniors and people with disabilities in Bartholomew County by connecting them with local organizations, and services.
Local businesses and service providers also donate materials and services. Volunteers are available to assist seniors with projects and enable them to remain in their homes as long as possible. Contact Triad at: 812-447-4054. |
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Jail
Bartholomew County Jail
Visiting Hours - Visiting hours are assigned by the cell that the inmate is assigned to. These can change if the inmate is moved by their own request or for other reasons. Visitation is ran Tuesday - Thursday 6pm-9pm
Visitors - must be at least 18 years of age and all visitors must present a valid photo ID.
Bonds- Cash bonds are accepted at the Clerk’s Office Mon-Fri 8 to 5. After 5pm bonds are paid at the jail. We accept cash and credit card bonds at the jail.
To find out if someone is in jail, please call: 812-565-5968
Property:
Property is no longer accepted. All clothing and inmate footware can be purchased off of commissary.
Please Note:
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We will not accept books.
Sheriff Sale
Sheriff Sale
SRI is now conducting the Bartholomew County Sheriff Sales.
For Sheriff Sale Information, please click on the SRI Link.
Each Bartholomew County Sheriff Sale is held at 543 Second Street, Columbus, Indiana on the first Tuesday of each month at 1000 am unless posted otherwise on the SRI Link.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW CURRENT SHERIFF SALE INFORMATION
Letter To Citizens
Dear Citizens,
A number of you have recently reached out with questions and concerns regarding the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office policies, procedures, and training. We appreciate and understand your concerns. In an effort to respond quickly, we are providing the following information, which addresses the questions and concerns raised.
- The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office conducts a very structured hiring process beginning with a written test administered and graded by a third party company, a physical fitness test, a command staff interview, Merit Board interview and interview with the Sheriff. Applicants are also subject to a very detailed background investigation on every Deputy prior to hiring. This includes a psychological and polygraph examination. Those tests cover any history of illegal activity including abuse, racism, and discrimination.
- The Indiana Law Enforcement Academy conducts the initial training for most Bartholomew County Deputies. They receive 15 weeks of intensive law enforcement training that includes the use of de-escalation and advanced communication skills. After successful completion of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, Deputies complete our department’s Field Officer Training program. This 16-week training allows them to use the skills they learned at the academy while being monitored by our field-training officers. It is during this time that our department evaluates those communication and conflict resolution skills. We place a great deal of emphasis on the utilization of these skills. Verbal commands and officer presence are the first measure used to gain control of a situation.
- The use of excessive force is never an option that would be acceptable. Our Deputies are prohibited from using excessive force. Deputies are trained to use the minimal amount of force necessary to resolve the situation. The amount of force necessary, but never beyond that level. Once compliance is gained, the use of force is no longer authorized.
- Chokeholds of any type are considered a use of deadly force and would only be acceptable when deadly force was justified. We do not train Deputies in the use of any type of chokehold.
- As a part of their regular continued professional training, Deputies receive instruction on de-escalation techniques during use of force encounters.
- Our policy mandates that the only time that a Deputy may shoot at a moving vehicle is when deadly force is justified.
- Verbal commands are encouraged when applicable and we continually train on their use in all situations where force becomes necessary. The Deputy must report any use of force immediately to his/her supervisor. The Deputy then completes a Use of Force report that is reviewed by his or her supervisor, the applicable Psycho Motor Skills instructor, the patrol captain and the chief deputy. These reports allow us to determine if the use of force was objectively reasonable and to monitor the number of times our officers use force to control a situation.
- The State of Indiana mandates that law enforcement officers receive at least 24 hours of training each year. At the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, our Deputies average 112 hours of training per year. Since 2015 we have trained annually in cultural diversity, use of force, and how we respond to calls with a higher risk for use of force. Several of our Deputies have attended Leadership Bartholomew County and Diversity Circle hosted by IUPUC. Below I have listed the training that we have received since January 1st of 2015. We also receive numerous other trainings annually but these are the ones that relate to current national events.
- Police One Academy – Cultural Awareness and Diversity Overview
- Police One Academy – Anti-Bias for Law Enforcement
- Police One Academy – Responding to People with Mental Illness
- Civil Unrest
- Police One Academy – Ethics in Law Enforcement
- Verbal Judo
- Gracie Survival Tactics
- Use of Force Policy Review
- Responding to Veterans in Crisis
- Understanding and Responding to Excited Delirium
- Indiana State Police Course – Cultural Diversity
- Reasonableness in Use of Force
Matt Myers
Matthew A. Myers, Sheriff
Bartholomew County, Indiana
News
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2023 100 DAY REPORT April 7, 2023 Loading... |
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FAQ
What are visiting hours for inmates?
Saturday and Sunday on HomeWav from 0700-2200 hours
What do family members need to visit?
Have account with HomeWav and schedule a visit online with inmates. They will visit in the lobby of the jail on the mobile HomeWav stations. Each station is assigned to a particular person. 4 stations total.
What are the restrictions? i.e. age, time limits, etc..
30 minute visits. Seg must be during inmate hour out. No age limit for visitation, however the account holder must be at least 18 years of age
How do families send money to inmates?
For food – Use accesscorrections.com; use the cask kiosk in the lobby of the department or call 866-345-1884
For writing letters or sending mail - Use accesscorrections.com; use the cask kiosk in the lobby of the department or call 866-345-8664
For phone calls – Create a HomeWav account and upload funds using a credit or debit card
What is accepted at the jail for inmates and where does a family member take it?
Trial clothing, prescription medication/glasses/contacts, wedding rings and religious necklaces. These may be dropped on in the front lobby. If it is not accepted how does an inmate get these items? Inmates may purchase items on commissary.
Trial clothing?
Accepted upon approval from a member of leadership team. Placed within the property room with inmate’s name.
Family pictures?
We do not accept these items. Families will have to utilize the Earth Class Mail instructions/policy to send in photos. The inmates can view these digitally utilizing the HomeWav kiosk within the blocks.
Books?
Books are not accepted. The jail provides a library of books, which the inmates get the opportunity of receiving weekly. Books get donated to the jail by the public library and other approved donors.
Where do family members send letters, pictures, cards/drawings from their children? Families can send mail by addressing it using the below example:
Facility Name (Bartholomew County Jail)
Inmate Name – Inmate System ID Number
PO Box 1042 PMB #39193
San Antonio, TX 78294-1042
Restrictions to what can be sent? Earth class mail will not accept the following:
Books
Magazines
Catalogs
Advertising Mailers
Junk Mail
Hire an Off Duty Deputy