Last Updated on January 15, 2018 by cassnetwork
Ed Schroder, a Major with the Indiana State Police and rural Cass County resident, announced his candidacy today as a republican for the position of Cass County Sheriff in the 2018 election. Schroder, a 30 year veteran of the Indiana State Police, is currently assigned as commander of the North Zone for ISP encompassing thirty seven counties, six ISP posts and a total of 353 police and civilian employees. Major Schroder has held every rank from Trooper through his current rank of Major. As Lieutenant, he served as commander of the Peru District which includes Cass County. He is a graduate of Pioneer High School, DePauw University, Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command. He was also selected as a participant in the 189th session of the FBI National Academy, an honor which only one percent of all law enforcement officers have the opportunity to attend.
Schroder began his public safety career under former Cass County Sheriff Gene Powlen. Schroder was hired as a part time dispatcher and jailor while he was earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from DePauw University. Schroder stated, “Working for the Cass County Sheriff’s Department while in college was the start of my love for public service and policing. Becoming Sheriff would be a chance to give back to the roots that began my career of public service.”
Schroder is currently serving in his eighth year as fire chief of the Royal Center Volunteer Fire Department which has allowed him to work in local government with the oversight of the town council while operating within a prescribed budget. Being a member of the fire department has also strengthened Schroder’s commitment to public service and ability to collaborate with other fire departments.
Schroder is a 12 year member of the executive board responsible for the operations of the Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). He was elected chairman of that board three times with the most recent term ending in 2017. The Indiana HIDTA, one of twenty-eight HIDTA designated areas in the nation, has an annual operating budget of $3.5 million and supports cooperative drug enforcement to reduce drug trafficking and production of narcotics by facilitating cooperation between state, local and federal police agencies. The HIDTA experience provided Major Schroder with a larger view of the crime and drug problem in our area. While on the executive board, he was engaged with numerous local police and sheriff departments. He also interacted with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the United States Marshall’s Service, two United States Attorneys for Indiana and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
During his career, Major Schroder has responded to numerous significant events and natural disasters. Two of the most significant events were Hurricane Katrina and the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland where his leadership, skills of cooperative policing, compassion and long term event planning led Schroder to obtain a Type III Incident Commander certification through the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
Schroder believes he has the skills, abilities and knowledge to lead the Cass County Sheriff’s Department into the future of policing. His contacts, proven experience and proven leadership will allow collaborative efforts to take the department from good to a great. Schroder will focus on reducing the impact of illegal narcotics and opioids, implement improved technology for the sheriff’s department, strengthen the department’s community and problem oriented policing efforts, and work with county government to reduce the overcrowding issues at the jail. “We must all remember that the population of a local jail represents the ills of our local community”, said Schroder. He added that Cass County is a great place to live, work, raise a family, and worship. He said, “I am ready to return to my roots and utilize the training and leadership experience I have developed to benefit the people of Cass County.”
Schroder lives in rural Cass County with his wife, Kim of twenty-three years, and two of their three sons. Kim is an elementary teacher at Pioneer as well as the Varsity swim coach at Pioneer High School. Their youngest son, Keaton, is a sophomore at Pioneer. Their middle son, Garrett, is a senior at Pioneer and is enlisting in the United States Air Force as a battlefield airman. Garrett and Keaton were members of the 2017 Pioneer High School State Championship football team where Garrett was named the IHSAA Blake Ress Mental Attitude winner for class A football. Ethan, their oldest son, is currently serving in the United States Army and assigned as a paratrooper to the famed 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Schroder said, “My family shares my love of public service and supports my candidacy as one more opportunity to strive and work hard to improve the quality of life for all citizens.”
EDUCATION, TRAINING and EXPERIENCE
Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy 189th session
Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command 102nd session
ISP 45th Recruit School Graduate
ISP SCUBA School Graduate
Pioneer High School Graduate
DePauw University Bachelor of Arts
Numerous national incident management classes
IDHS certified Type III Incident Commander
Three time Chairman of the Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Executive Board
Indiana Certified Basic Emergency Medical Technician
Indiana qualified Firefighter I, Firefighter II and arson investigator
Numerous in service and continuing education classes
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Current Royal Center Volunteer Fire Department Chief- 8 years
Royal Center Volunteer Fire Department First Assistant Chief-8 years
2003 Cass County Firefighter of the Year
Cass County 911 Governing Board member
Cass County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) member
Cass County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) advisory board member
4H Shooting Sports leader and pistol instructor
Volunteer at the Royal Center- Boone Township Library
Volunteer at Pioneer Elementary
Volunteer At Pioneer High School
Volunteer with the Cass County Central Republican Party
Past President of the Cass County Firefighters Association
Member of the Indiana Volunteer Fire Fighter’s Association
Member of Logansport FOP Lodge # 71
Member of the Indiana Sheriff’s Association
Member of the Indiana State Police Alliance
Member of Baptist Christian Church
SOURCE: Campaign announcement from Ed Schroder
EDITOR’S NOTE: Candidates are welcome to submit campaign announcements to be posted on CassCountyOnline.com.