Portland gets new chief

The City of Portland has a new police chief.

Portland Board of Works Tuesday afternoon signed a contract with former Jay County Sheriff’s Office chief deputy Mitch Sutton just minutes after receiving the resignation of police chief Josh Stephenson.

Portland Mayor John Boggs said he was unsure whether Stephenson’s resignation was connected to an ongoing investigation by state police. Following the board of works meeting, Stephenson declined to comment on his resignation.

Stephenson had served as police chief for slightly more than six months, having been appointed to the role by Boggs following the retirement of former chief Nathan Springer at the end of 2020.

Sutton is slated to start his new role at 8 a.m. Wednesday and be officially sworn in at 9 a.m.

When contacted July 1 about any investigation “regarding Portland Police Chief Josh Stephenson and/or other Portland police officers,” Indiana State Police public information officer Brian K. Walker said the investigation is complete and has been turned over to special prosecutor Jeremy Brown of Adams County. In an email the same day, Brown would not release details about the investigation because it is ongoing but said he hoped to have it wrapped up “in the next couple of weeks.”

Boggs said Tuesday he didn’t necessarily choose to look outside the city’s department for the next chief, but that he simply feels Sutton is right for the job.

“I’ve known Mitch for years,” he said, noting Sutton’s service on the city’s board of aviation. “I talked to several people outside of the department for advice … We have a very young department. …

“He’s got 33 years of experience in law enforcement. …

“I believe he’s got the same type of philosophy as me. … I think he has a lot to offer.”

Sutton, 55, has been involved in police work his entire career, starting as a dispatcher for Jay County Sheriff’s Office when he was 18. (He also worked as a dispatcher for Portland police.) He became a sheriff’s office deputy and served with the sheriff’s office for 32 years.

For just over a year, he has been in charge of security at Jay County Courthouse, a role he will give up as he starts his new job.

He ran for the Republican nomination for sheriff twice, losing in a four-way race in 2006 and a three-way race in 2014.

Sutton said he has been happy at the courthouse and wasn’t looking for something new, but that he’s excited about leading Portland Police Department.

“I realized that it’s my opportunity,” said Sutton, adding that he feels he can work well with the sheriff’s office and police in surrounding communities. “They have a lot of young officers there that could be molded into fine, fine police (officers). They have a good staff.

“As long as (Boggs) has me there, I will do everything in my power to make it a good department that he can be proud of and that the citizens of Portland can be proud of.”

Sutton’s salary, in line with the city’s payroll ordinance, is $2,064.07 for 26 pay periods, for a total of about $53,665 annually.

Boggs said other roles within Portland Police Department, such as assistant chief and investigator, will be up to Sutton’s discretion.

“I think he’s going to talk with all the officers and make his own evaluations,” Boggs said. “It’s his department and I’m going to allow him to make those choices …”

Asked Tuesday about the scope of the state police and the special prosecutor investigation and whether it extends beyond Stephenson, Boggs said he’s unsure.

“They’ve talked to a lot of people,” he said.

“I don’t think we can comment on any investigation because we’ve not heard anything,” added city attorney Bill Hinkle.

In announcing Stephenson’s resignation, Boggs said the now-former chief will be “taking a little time off but plans to be back in the job (as an officer) … sometime in the future.” In addition to his resignation, Stephenson was also removed from being in charge of information technology for the department.

In other police-related business, the board head that reserve officers Brad Ridenour and Jaylen Riddle were sworn in last week.

Also Tuesday, the board approved a total of $31,680 in work to be completed by Lutes and Sons Septic Services. The work involves removing two Seventh Street homes from combined sewers on the eastern edge of Portland. It will allow the city to eliminate one combined sewer overflow as part of its agreed order with Indiana Department of Environmental Management and possibly remove a second as well.

Though wastewater treatment department staff said the homeowners involved gave initial agreement for the work, Hinkle noted that a written agreement will need to be in place before moving forward.