Jeff Balon, Candidate for County Sheriff 2022
Jeff Balon, Candidate for Sheriff
"I am excited about running for Porter County Sheriff, I will work hard during this campaign, and if given the opportunity to be Sheriff, I will work even harder for every citizen in Porter County." -Jeff Balon
Jeff and his wife Katie, who works for the Olympus Corporation, have four children combined. Ty (25) unexpectedly passed away in March 2021 due to a seizure in his sleep. He had been diagnosed with epilepsy at a young age. Nicolette (22) is a Senior at IU (Northwest), majoring in psychology. Ella (18) is a senior at Morgan Twp. where she plays volleyball and basketball. Ella has just been accepted to IU (Bloomington). Harrison (17) is a junior at Morgan Twp. where he runs cross country. Harrison and his team competed in the State Finals this Fall.
As a family, they enjoy numerous activities together, but they especially enjoy snow skiing in the winter and boating on Lake Michigan in the summer. “I believe a leader is responsible for encouraging conversation and then truly listening, being responsive to what we hear.”
-Jeff Balon |
CAREER
Jeff Balon joined the Valparaiso Police Department in 1992 and has committed his career to protecting the community. In his service to the City of Valparaiso, he has served as Captain of Investigations, Detective Sergeant, Sergeant and Corporal. He was named Valparaiso’s Police Chief in 2017 where he has continued to enhance the Valparaiso Police Department. As Police Chief, Balon has led the way for the VPD to be re-accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), putting the VPD among just 15 police departments in Indiana, and less than 800 nationwide. He has made hiring a priority, recruiting, and hiring principled people and training them to become the very best public servants. Chief Balon has made it a priority to strengthen community relationships through the popular Citizens Police Academy and Junior Academy, programs within the schools, like the GREAT and DARE programs, and frequent opportunities for interaction, such as Coffee with a Cop and Breakfast and Badges. He also initiated the hiring of a master’s degree-trained social worker to provide early intervention for individuals and families at risk of violence or risk-taking behaviors. Balon has recently introduced a new Wellness initiative for the VPD, strengthening the community by strengthening officers. The Wellness program adds the services of a psychologist for officers, the services of the social worker in community settings and a priority on officer physical fitness, which has shown to add confidence for officers and reduce the likelihood of using force. POSITIONS HELD
JOIN THE CAMPAIGN
Facebook: BalonforSheriff Website: https://www.balonforsheriff.com/ Contact the Campaign by email - click here. |