Roachdale new police chief settling in

With a family that knows and understands what being in law enforcement means, combined with growing up in a small town, Dr. Keith Warner knew he always wanted to give back and become a police officer.

Warner, who is also a minister, is doing just that as he settles into his new role as Chief of Police for the Roachdale Police Department. He replaces former Chief Adrian Lepine and comes to Roachdale after spending a dozen years in law enforcement. 

Warner is also a master instructor and a nationally certified instructor, spent time at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, served on the Vermillion County Sheriff's Department and has been a minister for over two decades. 

"Growing up in my family, you had two options. You either became a police officer or you ran from the police officer. I love small town life. I was teaching at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and was driving from Covington to Plainfield and missed being out with the public, shaking hands and seeing them in a real every day basis. Roachdale was open, and I applied," Warner told The Putnam County Post.

Warner's uncle, Bob, was a deputy sheriff in Illinois, and his son works for the Indiana State Police out of the Lafayette District. 

"Later in my pastoral work, I was the senior minister at Cayuga Christian Church in Vermillion County and was friends with a deputy there. I reached out to him after reading an article about what a reserve deputy could do. I had no clue it even existed, and I reached out to him. I got started from there. It showed me something different. For the longest time in the ministry, I was in an office and expected people to come see me. Instead, I wanted to be the person that went to them," he said. 

Seeing the family legacy continue is something that makes Warner proud. 

"I am super proud. My son is an amazing young man. I have four kids and they all went into some sort of ministry and then into a career. It is an amazing thing to see him. He's dressed in that State Police uniform, and I am so proud. The State Police has been a great journey for him that is just beginning. My uncle was shot in the line of duty and survived and went back and made it to Chief Deputy. I look at the things I do under his scrunity and what would he do," Warner said. 

Despite serving a small town, Warner admits there is plenty of crime in Roachdale and it is non-existent. 

"The crime is the exact same, but just on a different scale. We are part of Putnam County, and we assist the county on calls, as well as Bainbridge. They help us out, and it is a team effort. We have domestics, drug problems, crashes and all the same issues the nation is experiencing. It is an all out effort for us," Warner said. 

With over 27 years in preaching ministry, Warner said he brings a different perspective to law enforcement, one he uses when responding to calls. 

"I am able to talk to people where they are. We all make mistakes, and that doesn't make you a bad person, and that is how I go at it. I try to treat people with the respect regardless of whether they show it to me or not, but I try to show people I care about them. My work as a deputy sheriff in Vermillion County prepared me for seeing everything, and my work at the academy allowed me to let new recruits know what it means to be a police officer and serving your community with honesty, integrity and serving in a greater way," Warner admitted. 

Warner continued, saying that when he arrives on the scene, his job is not to judge but rather to offer help. 

"I've seen both sides. I am not here to judge. I am here to help in any way possible, whether that is me sitting on the curb with a homeless person and buying them a Snickers and a bottle of water or just having to do my job and take someone to jail. I don't like that part, but it is required sometimes. If I can treat you the same and I know I have to take you to jail, I am going to take you to jail. However, one of the greatest things for any police officer is when that person gets out of jail and says, "thank you for how you treated me and doing what you did because it changed my life," is all we are out for," he said. 

During his time in Roachdale, Warner said he has been surprised and has learned quite a bit. 

"It really surprised me with how community oriented they are. I was out for Halloween and there were tons of people out. That is the community we want. We want to keep them safe. We want to enjoy the town and the company and all the benefits that provides. There is a lot to be said for a small town. I enjoy ever aspect of life, policing and getting into the community and getting to know them," said Warner. 

Meeting people where they are is something Warner wants to continue doing in his role. 

"I don't care if last night you were in the bar or if you've been arrested, I want to sit down, shake your hand and chat with you and at the end of the day, we will be friends. We all come from all walks of life and different stations. I don't weigh it through that lens. I weigh every call I go on through the lens on what would my God expect me to do in this situation and how would I handle that. It gives me a different persepctive," Warner said. 

Warner admits he has seen changes in his profession, both internally and in community perception. 

"It is absolutely tougher now. As a field training officer, it is really tough. Covid transitioned law enforcement big time, and what happened is we had high schoolers who were finishing high school, and now we are seeing Covid kids in college or law enforcement and they missed out on the element of talking to people. Paperwork is always there, but it has changed," Warner said. 

And, Warner admits he understands some movements, like defunding the police. 

"It is a great profession and career, but I am for defunding the police. I support that. I support defunding the bad police and getting rid of them. We aren't 100 percent perfect. We are human and we are going to make mistakes, but it is that person that owns the mistake and what they do with that mistake that makes the difference. I try to teach my department to rise above it. If this is a career you cannot handle, recognize it and get out. I am for that aspect of it. Every one of these movements started from something basic and that is human decency and human rights," Warner said.