Subcommittee takes no action on White County deputy Veronica Dodge’s certification

The commission's informal subcommittee reviewed the White County Sheriff's Office submission about deputy Veronica Dodge and ultimately voted to take no action after agency presentation and Dodge’s response.

Richard Williams, speaking for White County, outlined a sequence of department concerns dating from minor administrative matters to more serious incidents: a speeding citation dispute that created interagency tension, an April incident at a Lebanon establishment involving intoxicated officers and intervention by Dodge, a subsequent internal counseling, and a separate report of a taser being unholstered, manipulated in the office and discharged onto the floor, which led to written reprimand and discipline. Williams said the department also discovered Dodge had accepted employment with another agency while on medical restrictions and using donated sick‑bank time, which the department viewed as misuse of position and prompted consideration of decertification.

Dodge and her counsel, attorney Dana Lupert, responded that Dodge had medical restrictions, that she informed potential employers of those restrictions and that she had not knowingly concealed relevant information. Counsel and Dodge described the employer’s handling of medical accommodations, sick‑bank time and the timing of her resignation; Dodge said she was not notified of an internal investigation until after she submitted a resignation letter.

During discussion commissioners raised concerns about the chronology and whether the department opened an investigation before Dodge resigned. Commissioners also noted that Dodge had already separated from the agency and that taking administrative action against someone no longer employed raised procedural questions. A commissioner moved for no action; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Beverly and carried by voice vote. The informal subcommittee adjourned.