Brownsburg Police Commission approves two officers, reviews staffing, budget and K‑9 succession

BROWNSBURG, Ind. — The Brownsburg Police Commission on Aug. 12 approved removing two officers from probationary status and spent much of the meeting on staffing, training and budget items for the Brownsburg Police Department, Chief Joseph Grimes said.

The action included a motion to remove Officer Joseph Majeski and Officer Lacio Arquita from probationary status and to approve them as first-class police officers; the motion was moved, seconded and carried by voice vote. The commission also approved the meeting agenda and the minutes of its July 8 meeting (one commissioner noted a recusal during that earlier session).

Those personnel actions come as the department approaches its full staffing allotment. Grimes told the commission the department will have 62 full-time sworn employees once a conditional hire completes onboarding, meeting a staffing ratio he has tracked since 2018. He said retention — not adding more positions — will be the focus for the 2026 budget cycle.

The commission heard several personnel updates: a conditional offer accepted by Callahan Baxter, with a reported start date of Aug. 25; Officer Christian Moss was named the department’s new detective effective Aug. 25 after topping the internal selection list; and the department is conducting a selection process to fill an enforcement unit commander role in advance of Captain Jeff Clair’s retirement next year.

K‑9 succession planning was also discussed. Officer David Markham is scheduled to step down as a K‑9 handler and his dog is expected to be retired into his care on Dec. 31. The department announced Officer Megan Klontz as the selected new K‑9 handler; Grimes said training and certification are expected in September. Grimes told the commission Brownsburg has not had to budget for canine acquisitions in recent years because community donors and a nonreverting training fund have covered costs. He said a typical K‑9 plus training costs about $15,000 and that Big Boy Construction has committed to donate a canine.

Budget and equipment were another focus. Grimes reviewed the expense report through July and said the department is roughly 56–57% expended year to date. He flagged a longevity-pay line (line item 127) that showed a deficit because the town established a new civilian longevity matrix midyear; he said the town’s Clerk-Treasurer is tracking longevity separately and he does not expect a special appropriation will be required by year end. Grimes also told commissioners that rising vehicle costs required the department to use forfeiture funds to cover some patrol vehicle purchases rather than ask for additional town appropriations.

The department is shifting fleet purchases from Chevrolet Tahoe models to Ford Expedition and Explorer pursuit platforms equipped with the EcoBoost six‑cylinder turbo engine, Grimes said, citing maintenance and fuel-management considerations and the town garage’s tooling requirements.

Training and regional partnerships were highlighted. Grimes said Brownsburg officers will join multiagency gun-task-force training in September aimed at identifying and recovering stolen weapons and supporting homicide investigations. The department also completed a two‑day “active threat” training with the local school corporation and will join Hendricks County leaders and the juvenile court judge on Aug. 28 to review the county’s detention-screening tool amid an increase in juvenile offenses.

Community engagement and donations were discussed. National Night Out is scheduled for Oct. 7 at Arbuckle Park from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the department said; Brownsburg Fire Territory will run a concurrent community-safety event. Private donors also pledged support: Indiana Rooftops representatives presented a $2,500 donation to support the National Night Out event, and a local youth lemonade sale donated $13.36 to the K‑9 program. Grimes thanked the community for donations that have funded canines and training in past years.

The commission also read a letter from Detective Joshua Treft of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department that thanked Brownsburg officers for assistance executing a search warrant; the letter named Sergeant Steve Sentney, Corporal Dan Brinson, Officer Heather Foote, Officer Dustin Johnson, Officer Devin Craig, Officer Tyler C., Officer Bryce Plichta, and Officer Lucio Argueta for their roles.

The meeting closed after routine reports from support services and operations and brief updates on policy review timing; commissioners were told several policy items will return for additional legal review before final action.

Votes at a glance: agenda approved (voice vote), minutes of July 8 approved (voice vote; one commissioner recused from the July 8 discussion), and removal of Officers Joseph Majeski and Lacio Arquita from probationary status approved (voice vote).