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Elkhart Police Merit Commission approves two new patrol officers and swears them in
Summary
The Elkhart Police Merit Commission voted unanimously to hire Paul Leonard and Nicholas Burton as patrol officers; the mayor administered the oath and the commission reconvened briefly for photos and congratulations.
The Elkhart Police Merit Commission voted unanimously to appoint Paul Leonard and Nicholas Burton as patrol officers and the mayor administered the oath of office to both recruits during a short ceremony following the commission’s regular meeting.
The appointments stemmed from a single personnel item presented by the chief of police, who recommended each candidate after confirming they had completed background checks, testing and interviews. Paul Leonard, introduced by the chief as a recruit originally from Phoenix with prior experience in Maricopa County and campus policing, was approved for hire. Nicholas Burton, described as an Elkhart County resident and U.S. Army veteran who served five years on active duty and remains in the Army Reserve, was also approved.
Commissioners moved and seconded the motions to approve each hiring. The commission recorded roll-call votes for both appointments; Clifton Hilddrth, Brad Billings, Jim Rickoff, Thomas Barber and Jean Mace each voted yes on both motions, producing 5-0 tallies and formalizing the appointments. After the votes the mayor administered the oath; both new officers repeated the oath pledging to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Indiana” and to perform their duties impartially under the rules and regulations of the Police Merit Commission and the chief of police.
With no additional items and no members of the public seeking to address the commission, commissioners moved to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned by unanimous roll call and the participants proceeded with congratulatory photos.
Details recorded in the meeting: the chief stated that both candidates had completed all department-required background investigations and testing; Paul Leonard’s prior assignments included a county jail post and campus police work in Arizona; Nicholas Burton was noted for his local residency and military service. The commission took no further formal action at the meeting.
