INDIANAPOLIS — Governor Mike Braun announced Monday the immediate removal of Dubois County Sheriff Tom Kleinhelter from the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board (LETB), the body responsible for setting the state’s policing standards.
The Governor’s decision follows a formal recommendation from ISP Superintendent Anthony Scott and comes after the board rejected a controversial settlement deal that would have allowed the embattled sheriff to retain his law enforcement certification until 2027.
The removal is the latest fallout from a multi-year investigation into Kleinhelter’s conduct. On April 9, Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears filed formal criminal charges against the sheriff, including one Level 6 felony count of official misconduct and three Class B misdemeanor counts of false informing.
The charges center on a December 2024 interview with the Indiana State Police. Prosecutors allege that Kleinhelter provided false statements regarding his use of jail commissary funds—money legally intended for inmate and department needs.
The criminal case grew out of a 2024 State Board of Accounts (SBOA) audit that flagged roughly $78,000 in questionable spending. Investigators highlighted several specific discrepancies:
- The Canceled Dubai Trip: Kleinhelter allegedly claimed an $8,700 refund for a canceled trip to the 2025 World Police Summit was issued as airline credit. Financial records show the money was actually returned to his personal credit card and not repaid to the commissary for several months.
- “Special Deputy” Claims: Kleinhelter reportedly denied appointing his wife as a “special deputy,” a claim contradicted by internal department documents.
- Luxury Spending: The audit and subsequent probe identified thousands of dollars spent on items such as Blackstone grills, Visa gift cards, and golf outings that investigators say were not legitimate law enforcement activities.
“Public servants… have an obligation to maintain the highest standards of integrity,” Prosecutor Mears said. “These allegations reflect a fundamental violation of public trust.”
Hours before the Governor’s announcement, the LETB voted 9-4 to reject a settlement that would have delayed Kleinhelter’s decertification. Under the proposed deal, Kleinhelter would have resigned from the board immediately but kept his policing authority until the end of his term in 2027.
Superintendent Anthony Scott, who voted in favor of the deal only to ensure a guaranteed outcome, expressed frustration with the sheriff’s refusal to step down voluntarily. Scott said, It would have been nice if Kleinhelter resigned, like most people do when they find themselves in those scenarios.
On April 28th, an evidentiary hearing is scheduled to determine if Kleinhelter will be decertified.
If decertified Kleinhelter would lose his legal authority to act as a police officer in Indiana, effectively ending his ability to perform the duties of Sheriff, regardless of the outcome of his criminal trial.
Kleinhelter has consistently maintained his innocence, previously stating that any financial discrepancies were administrative errors and that he has repaid the funds in question. He remains in his second and final term as Dubois County Sheriff, which is set to expire at the end of 2026.
