JOHNSON COUNTY – Sergeant Michael C. Toles is set to hang up his gun belt one last time and is retiring following a long and rewarding career spanning nearly 35 years.
Trooper Michael Toles in 1991
Toles, a native of Fort Wayne, is a 1987 graduate of Northrop High School. In 1991, he earned an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from Indiana University (IPFW). During his time in college, Toles began his law enforcement pursuits by serving proudly as a Reserve Police Officer for the New Haven Police Department.
On November 24, 1991, Toles graduated from the 49th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy and was appointed as a Trooper. He was assigned to the Fort Wayne District, where he was assigned patrol responsibilities in Noble and Lagrange Counties.
In 2005, Toles was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and served as a District Squad Leader. In 2009, he was reassigned to the Meth Suppression Section as the North Zone Supervisor, supervising specially trained Troopers spanning the 45 northern counties of Indiana.
Senior Trooper Michael Toles in 2005
During his time at the Fort Wayne District, he served as a Corporal, District Marijuana Eradication Coordinator, Defensive Tactics and RADAR instructor, an Aircraft Crash Investigator, a Field Training Officer, a member of the Tactical Intervention Platoon, and a member of the Clandestine Lab Team. Toles is also a 2008 graduate of the 262nd Session of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command and holds numerous specialized Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Hazardous Materials certifications.
In 2018, he was designated as the statewide Illicit Hazardous Environment and Dangerous Drug Coordinator, a role he continued in leading up to his retirement.
Outside of his duties with the Indiana State Police, Toles continued to serve the public in many other areas. He both coached in and became an umpire for the East Noble Youth Baseball League from 2004 until 2014; served as President of the Noble County Council from 2014 to 2018, and since 2013, served with the Kendallville Lions.
Toles was a popular voice on WAWK “The Hawk” radio station in Kendallville, which covers northeast Indiana on Friday nights when he provided color commentary for East Noble football with long time hosts Fred Inniger and the late Rich Anderson.
“I am deeply grateful for the men and women I served alongside. The friendships, teamwork, and trust we shared made even the hardest days manageable”, said Toles. “I also want to thank my family, who sacrificed more than anyone. Their patience, support, and understanding made it possible for me to do this job for over three decades. Thank you for allowing me to be part of this organization and to serve the great state of Indiana. It has truly been the honor of a lifetime.”
Toles currently resides in Greenwood with his wife Jennifer and intends on spending time with grandchildren, traveling, and at the family timber farm in Noble County.
