Redkey hires new marshal

REDKEY — There’s another new marshal in town.

Redkey Town Council hired Kyle Denney to lead Redkey Police Department during a special meeting Thursday.

Denney, a 2005 Jay County High School graduate and Portland resident, started working for Portland Police Department in 2016. He graduated from Indiana Law Enforcement Academy about two years later and continued working for the department through December 2022. Prior to his time as an officer, Denney worked for Secret Security Systems of Portland, traveling around the country to install security cameras at various post offices.

“As a kid, I would always come over here,” Denney said, noting his friends grew up in the town. “Redkey is a small town, but it’s a nice, quiet town. But you know how things are — things always change.”

Drug control, code enforcement and school safety are some of the factors he plans to focus on when he begins patrolling the streets in the near future. (Denney still needs a gun certification, which he plans to get Saturday, and his employment is subject to results from a pending drug test and background check.)

“I just want to be an all-around good guy here,” he said, noting he plans to be fair in his work.

Council president Erik Hammers pointed to Denney’s experience and his graduation from the police academy as qualities that shined during his interview last week.

“He’s trained and ready to go,” said Hammers. “Seems to have a good demeanor, seems to be respectful. And I’m hoping he treats everybody equally.”

Redkey has not been able to enforce ordinances and handle police calls since the end of January, when former marshal and current town council vice president Chance Retter resigned. (Per Indiana law, he had to resign in order to remain on the town board, which he was elected to in January.) Retter left to take a position with Jay County Sheriff’s Office. He previously served in the role alone since mid June, having stepped in after Todd Miller’s resignation.

The town has been without a second police officer for more than a year. Former officers Tim Fishbaugh and Bradley Ridenour resigned in April 2022 and November 2021, respectively. (Ridenour was charged in Jay Superior Court in July 2022 with obstruction of justice, a Level 6 felony, for an alleged crime he committed while serving the town department.)

Town council OK’d cutting the funding for a third police officer in September, but it’s still looking for a second police officer to work alongside Denney.

Hammers noted Thursday the board is hoping to hire another officer soon — he mentioned another interviewee from last week may be a good candidate for the position. The board will likely need to advertise for the job and conduct interviews again before making a decision.

Immediately after council approved Denney’s employment, Hammers congratulated him and council member Gary Gardner asked, “Can you start Monday?”

Denney confirmed he could start as early as Monday.

Council also agreed Thursday, absent Chance Retter, to contribute $1,100 toward clothing and equipment for Denney.