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Welcome to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. I am Sheriff Mike Nielsen and I have the privilege and the honor of serving the citizens of Boone County and leading the men and women of the Sheriff’s office.
The mission statement of the Sheriff’s Office is clear – "The Boone County Sheriff’s Office is committed to providing a safe and supportive community through honest, competent, professional and progressive law enforcement services.” Our Value points are Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Professionalism, and Commitment.
The Office of Sheriff has an obligation to protect life and property and to perform our duties with the highest degree of professionalism and integrity. As a proactive law enforcement agency, our innovative programs and access to advanced technology help us work more efficiently and effectively. We will be tough on crime and responsive to the needs and concerns of our community while at the same time being fair and just to the people we serve.
At the BCSO, we believe in working together with members of our community to achieve public safety goals. We are proud of the overall efforts we take part in with citizens, schools, businesses, community organizations, government leaders and fellow law enforcement agencies. We build on these alliances when we face a particular public safety threat or challenge and also during day to day calls for service, meetings, special events and other activities throughout the year.
We will strive to include citizens in the public safety process by offering them opportunities to take an active role in crime prevention and by keeping them informed of public safety matters. We host many meetings and special events and we attend homeowner’s association meetings and other community functions.
We believe strongly in engaging citizens in good, old-fashioned conversations. We offer our Citizens Academy as well as a Reserve Academy each year. We will begin to maintain an active presence on social-networking sites.
In addition to fighting crime, we believe in giving back to our community through various outreach programs. We provide opportunities that encourage our young people to make good decisions, provide assistance to disadvantaged families, and support local fundraisers. We support a number of charitable organizations including United Way, Special Olympics, Boone County Cancer Society, Boone County Mental Health, and our school corporations throughout the county just to name a few.
Our primary responsibility at the Corrections Facility is to keep inmates secure but we also offer them access to a general-equivalency diploma program, a chaplain program, drug programs, anger management classes, and other services to help them re-enter society as more productive citizens. Our goal is to keep them out of jail and not see them re-offend.
Our Communications center is the heart of every call and the life line for all of our public safety personnel throughout the county. We believe that it all starts in this center and it is so important to maintain that courteous, calm and professional posture when answering that 911 call or administrative call.
Thank you for visiting our website. We have only just begun! I encourage you to search our website and provide us with any feedback that you may think will assist us in serving you better. Our office is here to work for you. We thank you for that opportunity and look forward to serving you for years to come.
Sheriff Michael T. Nielsen
mnielsen@co.boone.in.us
1-317-840-3391
March 2, 2021
In Memoriam of Deputy Jacob M. Pickett
Today, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office remembers our fallen hero and K9 handler, Deputy Jacob M. Pickett. March 2nd will always be remembered as the day we lost our brother in the line of duty. So many emotions arise with this day, but nothing can overtake the actions of Jake’s caring and generous nature to our Boone County citizens while he served for us. Jake’s charismatic personality was contagious and sparked a new life into the BCSO family. We will remember his dedication to the job, his love for animals, and most of all his mirthful laughter. We know Jake touched a lot of hearts while patrolling the roads of Boone County. Let us all remember a truly honorable man who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the people of this county. Remember those good times and no matter what circumstance you may come across, try to always “Respond Like Jake”.
*Sheriff Mike Nielsen Statement*
“Today we celebrate Jakes life and not mourn his death. As we raised three embroidered flags at the Sheriff’s Office entrance this afternoon, the overwhelming emotions began to flow. But through all the emotions a sense of pride for Jake and the way he served this office and this community quickly overcame those emotions. We miss him every day and we will never forget his sacrifice and the sacrifice of his family. Please continue to pray for Jen and the boys, Jakes family, the employees of this office, and those that crossed paths with Jake because this journey is far from over. Jake, you will never be forgotten.”
I was quickly reminded not long ago about the battles we all must face in our lives both personally and professionally. It is very hard for us to go through the tough times and we often forget how blessed we really are when times are easy. We are blessed to have a job, a family, kids, parents, a roof over our heads, and food in front of us. Jen and the boys have been missing that family part for the last three years now. A family that in a split moment everything was taken away from them. A wife with no husband, two boys without a dad, parents without a son. I cannot begin to imagine the pain, anger, sadness, and flood of emotions that Jen dealt with that day three years ago and still deals with on a daily basis. It has to be unbearable at times. I can only wonder how she continues to have hope in tough times. I have so much admiration for her.
Many of you reading this email were not part of this office when Jake was killed. For those who were not here at the time I have included just a few excerpts from emails and FB posts below of the days shortly after Jakes death. Many of you came to work here because of Jake and his dedication to this profession after he was killed. Until you go through something that is as hard as this has been you cannot really understand it or grasp its wrath that it bestows upon you. I hope and pray that we will never have to face another tragedy like this again. It clearly has changed my life in both good and bad ways. I have seen it change this office in ways that I could have never thought it would have changed. I have seen it change people both inside this office and outside this office. But through it all I continue to see the beauty of hope that has risen from the ashes. I still remain steadfast of focusing on the mission of good. I have seen people struggle through the last three years but make it through the tough times and for that I am so grateful.
