FRANKFORT, Ind. — Clinton County Sheriff Brendon Bright, nine weeks into the job, said officer recruitment and an aging, more than 30-year-old jail facility top his list of challenges as he settles into the role, during an appearance Friday on WILO’s Party Line talk show.
Bright, who spent years as a Clinton County deputy before serving as an investigator with the county prosecutor’s office, is now running unopposed for sheriff on the November ballot after being caucused into the position. His official four-year term begins Jan. 1, 2027. In a wide-ranging conversation covering staffing, budget season, drug addiction resources, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in policing, Bright framed his early priorities around community partnership and long-term planning for the department’s people and property.
RECRUITMENT A TOP CHALLENGE
Bright said filling open positions remains one of the department’s biggest hurdles, a challenge he described as more difficult than it was a generation ago.
“A lot of applicants don’t see that need that maybe we saw 20 years ago to come in and make a difference, just for a variety of reasons, you know, just generally speaking, maybe some bad press over the years,” Bright said. He added that the department is currently in the process of hiring one new officer and emphasized fit over simply filling seats: “We don’t want people just to hire in just because they want a job and want a paycheck. You’ve got to have that right heart.”
He credited the county council for raising pay to competitive levels over the years, which he said has helped Clinton County attract lateral transfers from other departments rather than serving only as a training ground for young officers headed elsewhere.
AGING FACILITY UNDER REVIEW
Bright said the sheriff’s office building, now more than three decades old, is “manageable” but will eventually require tough decisions about repair versus replacement, including HVAC and elevator systems.
“It’s just going to be one of those things to where you know how much do you spend to fix things versus replacing things,” Bright said. “We’re not there yet, but obviously it’s something we’ll have to look at.” He said he is also working through his first county budget cycle with help from his new matron, Britt Ostler, the former county auditor, calling the process manageable despite the short runway.
LEANING ON TECHNOLOGY AND AI
Looking ahead, Bright pointed to artificial intelligence and drone technology as growing tools for the department, particularly for reviewing large volumes of camera and cellphone data.
“There’s video and there’s cameras everywhere, but there’s so much footage, and AI is gonna be obviously a huge role in law enforcement too, to help analyze that information,” Bright said. “One human being can’t sit there and watch a hundred screens, to where AI or a computer can analyze that.” He said body cameras are also evolving toward wider, potentially 360-degree coverage, and that drones now allow officers to search buildings remotely before entering, improving officer safety.
TREATING ADDICTION, WARNING ON SCAMS
On drug addiction, Bright described it as a disease requiring a compassionate, coordinated response rather than a purely punitive one. “They’re breaking the law, but they’re not bad people per se,” he said, adding that the department hopes to strengthen “soft handoffs” connecting inmates to local treatment services upon release.
He also renewed warnings about ongoing phone, text, and email scams targeting seniors, noting that fraudsters increasingly have real personal details that make their schemes convincing. “It’s crazy how much information the scammers have,” Bright said, urging residents to hang up or ignore unsolicited requests for money or personal information.
MESSAGE TO RESIDENTS
Closing the interview, Bright asked residents for patience and goodwill toward officers and offered an open door for questions or concerns as the school year approaches and bus traffic increases on local roads.
“When you see police officers out there, be kind to them, just realize they’re doing the right thing,” Bright said. “I’ll be an open door sheriff — give me an email, give me a call, and I’d be happy to talk to you.”
TRAFFIC ALERT: ROAD CLOSURE, HOT DOG FESTIVAL DRAW CROWDS DOWNTOWN
In brief traffic news Friday, hosts reported the eastbound lane of State Road 28 at County Road 800 West was closed due to an accident, and urged drivers — especially semi-truck traffic headed to the bean plant — to seek alternate routes such as State Road 39 while crews cleared the scene. Separately, downtown Frankfort is seeing road closures this weekend for the annual Hot Dog Festival, with hosts advising through-traffic and semi-drivers to route around downtown rather than attempt to pass straight through, as several streets will be inaccessible for turns.
Forecasters call for a mostly dry, pleasant weekend for festival-goers, with only a slight chance of pop-up showers overnight Sunday.
