Chief Grimes reports radio replacements, large narcotics seizures, $2M extortion probe and community outreach
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Summary
Chief Joseph Grimes briefed the commission on equipment needs tied to a statewide radio upgrade, two large narcotics seizures, an ongoing $2 million extortion investigation, a DMV spoofing scam alert, training plans for gun-liaison officers and recent community events.
Chief Joseph Grimes told the Brownsburg Police Commission on June 10 that the department faces significant equipment costs tied to a statewide radio-system upgrade and described recent operational activity including large narcotics seizures, a complex extortion investigation, public-safety community events and training plans.
On equipment, Grimes said the state is switching radio systems and “we're reaching the end of life of a lot of the radios that we have. Some of them can be reflashed, a multitude of them cannot, and these are approximately $6,000 to $7,000 per radio.” He said the department is evaluating whether to make a bulk purchase or spread replacements over the year and that that choice could accelerate line-item spending in the department budget.
On enforcement, Grimes said the Brownsburg Narcotics Unit (B&U), working with federal partners and task force officers, seized more than 400 kilograms of cocaine in one operation and more than 100 kilograms in another recent seizure. “We continue to go to the source,” he said, and added the department is pursuing distributors tied to distribution networks that move narcotics into Indianapolis and surrounding suburbs.
Grimes described a local victim of an extortion and fraud scheme in which the individual sent about $2,000,000 over roughly 100 wire transfers to people claiming to be U.S. immigration officials. The case was forwarded to the FBI for investigation; Grimes said Detective Dan Stanford signed that investigation and federal resources have been engaged to pursue the responsible parties.
Grimes also raised a scam alert concerning messages spoofing the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles claiming recipients owed an outstanding traffic ticket and that licenses would be suspended if they did not pay by a specified date. “This is a scam,” he said, and urged residents to verify suspicious messages with local law enforcement before sending money. The department reported at least one case in which $10,000 was nearly sent but was intercepted through postal-service and law-enforcement coordination.
On training, Grimes said the department plans to identify about eight personnel to be certified as gun-liaison officers at training hosted by the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Department in September. The certification is intended to standardize evidence preservation and the collection of DNA from firearms recovered in cases such as stolen-weapons recoveries tied to violent crimes.
Grimes also summarized community relations activity: fundraising through Cops on a Rooftop for Special Olympics raised $1,746.67 at the Brownsburg location; the department hosted community events in May including two Touch-a-Truck events, a community day at the library, a Bailey Park presentation and STAR Soccer youth engagement; and the police-fire summer camp was serving roughly 200 children across two sessions.
The chief closed by naming recently deceased retired officer Harold “Hoot” Gibson and listing other fallen retirees; he said Brownsburg coordinated with Avon Police Department for additional remembrance opportunities.
No formal action was required on these operational updates; questions from the commission were limited and Grimes invited commissioners to meet with him individually about the 2026 budget.
