Shipshewana Police Officer Page

Marshal Tom M. Fitch II

Tom M. Fitch II has been with the Shipshewana Police Department since his appointment as Chief Deputy in 1999. He has served as Town Marshal since his promotion in March 2002. Marshal Fitch holds an Associates of Science in Law Enforcement, Bachelor of Science in Criminology and a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Indiana State University. Marshal Fitch is an Indiana Law Enforcement Academy graduate and a certified firearms, RADAR, O. C.A.T. and Taser instructor. He is also a certified Breathalyzer operator through the Indiana University Department of Toxicology. His law enforcement background includes working as Investigator for the LaGrange County Prosecutors Office, Jail officer with the LaGrange County Jail and as a Deputy Marshal with the LaGrange Police Department. In August 2007 Marshal Fitch received his Master Instructor Certificate from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.

Sergeant J. Carlos Jasso

J. Carlos Jasso started as a Reserve Deputy with the Shipshewana Police Department in June of 2002. In March of 2004 Deputy Jasso was hired as a Full-Time Deputy. Currently Carlos Jasso serves as a Sergeant in the Shipshewana Police Department. He is currently working on his Bachelor of Science Degree from Indiana University South Bend. Jasso is a 2004 Graduate of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, where he achieved Top Firearms Proficiency and Top Academic Status. Jasso is currently an Indiana Law Enforcement Academy General Instructor and Defensive Tactics Instructor. Along with his Sergeant and Instructor duties Jasso has been the department K-9 Handler for 6 years where he has been the handler for two dogs, Zander and Alister.

Deputy Nicholas M. Byroad

Nicholas M. Byroad was appointed as a Reserve Deputy Marshal in 2006 and was hired as a Full-Time Deputy in May of 2007. In 2007, Byroad graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. Deputy Byroad served eight years in the United States Army ending his time as a Specialist. Byroad served one tour of duty in Iraq, where he worked as a Bradley Gunner. Prior to his employment with the Shipshewana Police Department, Byroad worked as a LaGrange County Jail Officer. Deputy Byroad is an Indiana Law Enforcement General Instructor and a certified r.a.d. Kids Instructor. Byroad has been certified as a Taser Instructor in the past. Currently Deputy Byroad is in charge of the r.a.d. Kids Program for the Shipshewana Police Department

Deputy Derek L. Baldridge

Derek L. Baldridge started his career with the Shipshewana Police Department in 2010 as a Reserve Deputy Marshal. In February of 2012 Deputy Baldridge was hired as a Full-Time Deputy with the Shipshewana Police Department. Baldridge is a 2011 graduate of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. Deputy Baldridge is currently working on his Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Indiana University Fort Wayne. Baldridge has worked for the LaGrange County Sheriff’s Department as a Reserve Police Officer and North Manchester as a Full-Time Police Officer.

Deputy Brandon Hooley

Brandon M. Hooley started with the Shipshewana Police Department in 2009 as a Deputy Marshal. Deputy Hooley has worked full-time as a Sergeant in Corrections for the LaGrange County Jail for 5 years. Deputy Hooley served in the United States Marine Corp as a Corporal for 6 years, during this time Hooley had several deployments. While serving a tour of duty in Iraq Hooley was injured during an I.E.D. attack and was awarded the Purple Heart. Hooley is a general instructor for the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy

Deputy Otis C. Winslette

Otis C. Winslette started with the Shipshewana Police Department in 2003. Deputy Winslette currently works full-time as a Correctional Officer for the LaGrange County Sheriff’s Department in LaGrange, Indiana. Prior to becoming an officer in Shipshewana, Deputy Winslette was a Deputy in Topeka, Indiana. Winslette’s work experience prior to LaGrange County had him working as a full-time Sheriff’s Deputy in Georgia for eight years and as a Georgia State Correctional Officer for 10 years. Deputy Winslette is an Indiana Law enforcement Academy Certified General Instructor and Firearms Instructor. Along with his ILEA Certification Winslette has instructor experience in Taser, Pepper Spray and STOPS. Winslette is a certified Breath Test Operator through the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.

Deputy Stephen R. Van Mol

Stephen R. Van Mol started with the Shipshewana Police Department in 2007. Prior to working for the Shipshewana Police Department Van Mol was a firearms instructor for the St. Joseph, Michigan Special Response Team. Van Mol is an Indiana Law Enforcement Academy Certified General Instructor and Firearms Instructor. Van Mol is also an instructor in P.P.C.T. Defensive Tactics and a certified Glock Armorer. Van Mol is an Affiliate Instructor with Defense Training International (DTI). Van Mol has instructed the Federal Bureau of Investigations, United States Marine Corp and several other law enforcement and military organization while training with Defense Training International. Van Mol has his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Tennessee in Business.

Deputy Austin L. Bontrager

Austin L. Bontrager started with the Shipshewana Police Department in May of 2007. Deputy Bontrager currently works at the LaGrange County Sheriff’s Department as a Corrections Officer. Deputy Bontrager attended the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 2010 and was awarded the Top Academic Award. Bontrager is a certified Indiana Law Enforcement Academy General Instructor and is also a STOPS Instructor. Deputy Bontrager worked as K-9 Handler for the Shipshewana Police Department and was trained by Advanced K9 International. Deputy Bontrager was a Sergeant in the United States National Guard for six years and served a tour in Iraq.

Police Chaplain Matt Gingerich

K-9 Alister

(October 12th 2006-Present) Alister is a German Shepherd imported from the Czech Republic. Sergeant J. Carlos Jasso and Alister attended the prestigious fourteen week police canine academy at the Allen County Sheriff’s Department. Alister is a full utility police work dog certified in obedience, aggression control, article search, area search, and in the detection of six different drugs including: Marijiuana, Ecstasy, Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, Heroin, and Methamphetamines. Alister is currently the one and only K-9 working for the Shipshewana Police Department.

K-9 Zander

(February 9th 2004 – October 24th 2007) K-9 Zander came to the Shipshewana Police Department from Prague in the Czech Republic in October of 2004. Zander attended the fourteen week Allen County Canine Academy under Master Instructor Robert Compton. During the academy, Zander was certified by the Allen County Sheriff’s Department and the International Police Work Dog Association in obedience, aggression control, article searches, area searches and in the detection of five different drugs including marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.

K-9 Winda

(September 2009 –Retired 2012) Winda is a 2 year old female Jack Russell Terrier. Jack Russell Terriers are known for their exceptional ground hunting skills. The name Winda is Swahilli for “Hunter”. Windaw was born and raised in Spencerville, Indiana by her breeder Brooks Chase Terriers. Winda has completed 16 weeks of training from Advanced K9 International and is certified in obedience, tracking , building search, and the detection of six different drugs including: Marijuana, Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphatamines, and Oxycontin. In 2012 Winda was retired from the Shipshewana Police Department after Handler Bontrager accepted a fulltime position with another agency.