FRANKFORT — Recent heavy rain caused scattered high water and a handful of stalled vehicles around Frankfort, but nothing approaching the severe flooding that hit Anderson and parts of Indianapolis, according to Frankfort Police Captain Brady Sorrells, who appeared on WILO’s Party Line to discuss flooding, school-zone safety, impaired driving and the department’s outlook heading into fall. Shan Sheridan hosted the interview on WILO.
“The flooding wasn’t an issue where we were evacuating homes or anything like that, and we’re not seeing the creeks cresting out and causing major flooding in local areas,” Sorrells said. Still, he acknowledged low-lying streets held standing water overnight and caused a few cars to stall. “If it takes an extra three minutes to turn right, then turn left and go around it, that’s what we’re asking you to do,” he said, urging drivers to slow down rather than drive through flooded roadways.
The conversation also touched on a lesser-known local hazard: sinkholes. Discussing an incident involving a cyclist in Carmel, the host and Sorrells noted that Indiana’s limestone bedrock and shifting fault lines in the southern and western parts of the state can create hidden voids beneath roads. “If it looks like more than just a normal puddle, I would avoid it,” Sorrells said.
School Traffic and Maish Road Speed Limits
With the school year underway, Sorrells said patrol shifts are increasing visibility near schools during morning and afternoon traffic, including targeted stops for violations in school zones. “It’s really just to raise the awareness of the drivers,” he said.
Sorrells also confirmed that the 20 mph limit on Maish Road near the school remains in effect and is being reviewed for whether it should apply only during school hours or around the clock. “Kids are so unpredictable and their not always are thinking,” he said, adding that distracted walking and driving make vigilance essential in that stretch.
Statewide Impaired-Driving Initiative
Sorrells previewed the upcoming “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, a state grant-funded initiative that reimburses cities for officers working extra traffic-enforcement shifts focused solely on impaired driving. “Their only duty is full traffic detail,” he said, noting the officers do not respond to calls or work regular patrol shifts.
He cited sobering statistics from last year: 23% of Indiana’s traffic fatalities involved alcohol, 41% involved drug impairment, and the two categories combined accounted for nearly two-thirds of fatal crashes. “It’s an alarming stat,” Sorrells said. “It’s the reason why these projects exist.”
On the legal threshold for impairment, Sorrells explained the 0.08 blood-alcohol limit is only part of an officer’s broader impairment investigation, which relies on observed behavior, field sobriety tests and, when needed, blood tests. “It’s not automatic one way or another, but it’s another tool in the toolbox,” he said.
Community, Geography and the Road Ahead
Sorrells described Frankfort’s location — between Kokomo, Lafayette and Indianapolis along I-65 — as a “sweet spot” for pass-through traffic, especially as detours from the I-65 “Leap” construction project push more drivers onto Highways 28 and 38. He credited strong community support and public tips for helping officers, while acknowledging that a small, vocal segment of “social media warriors” shapes public perception more than actual encounters do.
Looking toward the fourth quarter, Sorrells said the department is finishing annual training mandates while preparing to staff the Raices Festival (Saturday September 19, 2026) and parade, homecoming parade, trick-or-treat events and the Christmas parade. Budget season looms as a bigger concern, with new state legislative property tax changes expected to squeeze rural department funding. “We’re optimistic that we’re going to be able to get through without any major cuts to anything that’s going to impact personnel or degrade any services we provide,” Sorrells said.
He also pointed to the challenge of keeping policy current with fast-moving technology, including artificial intelligence. “It’s changing almost hourly,” he said, describing how detectives are constantly retraining as tools and tactics evolve.
The department also recognized the progress Deputy Chief Cesar Munoz is making during the segment.
