We not only have to address the crime that is occurring today, but also be prepared to maintain our safety and quality of life well into the future.

Our approach to public safety must be built upon mutual trust between the community and public safety agencies. We must adopt innovative approaches to policing and invest in our communities and in our youth to address the root causes of crime, such as generational poverty, mental health issues, and substance abuse.

My top priority will be to ensure public safety agencies have the best training, equipment, and resources needed to deliver effective service. We will start by increasing the police force, engaging in effective community policing strategies, arresting individuals involved with group violence, and continuing to collaborate with specialists to address the non-violent issues that currently require a police response.

In my time on Vanderburgh County Council, I voted to support increased salaries for sheriff deputies so that we could attract and retain top talent. I supported using federal funds from the American Rescue Plan to address overcrowding in the county jail and to create a mental health wing. I also approved American Rescue dollars for additional space for the Vanderburgh County Superior and Circuit courts to address the courts’ backlog so that cases can be tried more quickly and effectively and we do not have people languishing in jail. I strongly supported funding a case manager position for Aurora’s Reentry Program so that those who have been incarcerated have the support and services they need so that they do not re-offend. The program has been very successful in cutting the recidivism rate.