By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Decatur’s newest police officer is in Plainfield today, beginning his training at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.
Dallas J. Creager, 26, was officially hired by Decatur’s board of works and safety at its meeting Tuesday night. He was immediately sworn in– and left for Plainfield soon after.
The native of Bluffton and graduate of Southern Wells High School has been a member of the Geneva Police Department since last May.
A large contingent of Decatur officers – including Chief Kevin Gerber who regularly attends the meetings, and Deputy Chief Chris Brite – was on hand to see their new colleague sworn in.
His hiring will bring the Decatur PD up to full force once again: 20 officers, including Gerber and Brite.
Ceager was chosen from a larger-than-usual field of candidates to replace Jagg Nunez, who resigned in September.
“We’re excited to have him; he interviewed well,” Mayor Dan Rickord said of Creager.
The new officer is in the 235th Tier 1 class at the academy, a class slated to graduate April 25.
He would then join the Decatur police force and begin a year of field training.
Creager, who is not married, enlisted in the Army after his graduation from Southern Wells and became a member of the military police.
He later worked as a jail officer and dispatcher for Wells County and City of Bluffton, respectively, prior to joining the Geneva PD.
CORRAL EXITS: Chief Gerber told the board that former police chief Lennie Coral has resigned from the department’s reserve force.
Corral stepped down as chief in February of 2023 to head a new security department with Adams Health Network, but asked to stay on with the reserves.
Gerber said Corral expressed a desire to spend more time with his grandchildren. Earlier this year, he became a member of the Adams County Council.
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