Local police look to bridge the gap with the community

Terre Haute Police Chief Shawn Keen and Vigo County Prosecutor Terry Modesitt/ Lucy Perry photo

By Lucy Perry
Indiana Central News


Terre Haute Police Chief Shawn Keen said his department is trained to handle the many challenges communities everywhere are facing these days.

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, and now with the ongoing George Floyd death protests,  he said their training in various areas has paid off. 

THPD is an accredited law enforcement agency. They use proactive policing measures, he said during a press conference Monday afternoon, alongside Vigo County Prosecutor Terry Modesitt and Vigo County Sheriff John Plasse at city police headquarters on Wabash Avenue.

Community relations always has room for improvement.

Officers are required to complete programs where they gain skills need to de-escalate potential crisis situations, while considering many jail time alternatives. They also undergo cultural and diversity training.

The department is proactive and well-trained, Keen said, giving several examples of dangerous calls officers have gone on in the wake of COVID-19 alone. THPD has also assisted other agencies in response to various situations. 

Modesitt praised the work of local law enforcement during the course of protests taking place locally since Saturday. Consistency and transparency are imperative in their work, he said.

"There has to be justice for all -- for everyone," Modesitt said, noting that overall he feels there's a good relationship with the community.

Keen wants citizens to understand that police officers are approachable, and community feedback is always welcome .

" If you have any complaints, any concerns, you can call here. Call my office," Keen said.

Vigo County Sheriff John Plasse/ Lucy Perry photo

​Plasse agrees with Keen, saying he also has an open door policy and is working to better relations with the community.

"We're here to serve our community. Without their support, we wouldn't be very effective, " he said.

Meanwhile, mistakes are inevitable, but they're addressed.

"I feel fortunate that we don't have a lot of bigger issues in Vigo County," he said. "We're transparent and we don't hide anything."

But, when mistakes are made, Plasse and Keen say accountability is a top priority. 

Keen said an example of transparency and accountability are allegations of excessive force. They are reported to the prosecutor's office and then turned over to an outside agency for further investigation.

In effort to promote more transparency and accountability, Keen would like to see officers using body cameras soon.

That's yet another challenge for the department to purchase the equipment and be able to use in the near future.  Body cameras are costly, but necessary, Keen said. He estimates the cost to be around $100,000 per year.  The data would need to be stored six months periods. He hopes to obtain some of the funding through a grant.

Acquiring body cameras are more of a long term goal for Plasse. He cites expense and uncertainty in funding, while considering the potential economic impacts of the pandemic health crisis.