Mount Vernon graduate appointed as Columbus, Ind. Police Chief

Concluding an extensive evaluation process, Columbus Mayor Kristen Brown announced her selection of Jason Maddix as Columbus’s next Chief of Police. Brown appointed Maddix on Dec. 31 during a swearing-in ceremony at Columbus City Hall.
Maddix is a 1988 graduate of Mount Vernon High School. He is the son of Ora and Martha Maddix of Mount Vernon.
Det. Maddix was chosen from a field of eight candidates, all of whom were interviewed by Brown, six representative Columbus police officers, Sheriff Mark Gorbett and Prosecutor Bill Nash.  
Detective Jason Maddix, 42, is an accomplished law enforcement professional with more than 17 years of experience with the Columbus Police Department.  
“Jason’s track record is exemplary and he possesses all the key attributes of a successful leader,” said Brown. “We had eight excellent candidates for this position and we interviewed them all.
Jason’s focus on preventing, reducing and solving crime and building morale in the Police Department, as well as his strong leadership skills, make him the right choice for Police Chief of our community.”
Maddix has served as a criminal investigator for the past 11 years, specializing in major crimes.  Prior to his time in the Investigations Division, Maddix served six years in the Patrol Division, and served in such capacities as DARE instructor and field training officer. He also served the department as firearms instructor, Pension Board Member, and Audit and Review Committee member.  
Maddix has an Associate of Science degree in Law Enforcement from Vincennes University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Indiana University, Bloomington.
He is a Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Financial Crimes Investigator and resides in the City of Columbus with his wife, Tammy, two children and three step-children.
Maddix has several short-term and long-term plans for the department, including moving uniform officers from administration to the street and appointing of a full-time investigator to address the growing problems of prescription fraud, drug diversion and pharmacy robberies.  
“I’m very excited about getting to work and taking the Columbus Police Department to the next level,” said Jason. “In addition to tackling the use and sale of drugs and property crime, an important goal is to improve the morale of our officers.
In doing so, we will see officers  performing their jobs better and ultimately, we will reduce the incidence of crime.” 

Jason Maddix