The police chief in Stinesville, Indiana, a small community with about 200 residents, has expressed concerns about local authorities targeting his department by withholding $122,500 in funding from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Chief Shane Pittman shared this information with the Daily Caller, saying that the funding freeze forces him and his officers to cover costs themselves.
The withheld funds are linked to an agreement made with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the 287(g) program in February, which permits local police to check the immigration status and detain unauthorized immigrants during routine duties. Pittman mentioned that the agreement he took over was a remedy for the insufficient funding provided by local leaders.
“If there’s another funding source, I’m all for it, but there really isn’t. There’s nothing we can access,” he said. He added that officers often buy their own gear, noting that he personally equipped a patrol car and leases it back to the town for just a dollar a year.
“If we could resolve the funding issue, we might not need to rely on this arrangement,” Pittman continued.
The $122,500 would cover two vehicles, officer training reimbursements, and essential equipment. However, this funding is currently held by the Stinesville Town Board, which is under pressure to reconsider the agreement, even facing warnings from Indiana’s Attorney General, Todd Rokita, that interfering with it could breach state law.
Pittman pointed out that while 45 other state agencies and local law enforcement agencies in Indiana have similar agreements, Monroe County officials have specifically targeted Stinesville in their opposition to ICE.
He recounted an incident from a parade on September 26, during which a Monroe County snowplow displayed a sign that read, “ARE YOU READY FOR THE ICE STORM?” Both Pittman and town board President Scott McGlocklin viewed this as an attempt to intimidate the town regarding its partnership with ICE.
“Let me be clear: The Monroe County Commissioners can’t dictate how this town operates,” McGlocklin stated during an October 6 town board meeting.
County Commissioner Jody Madeira acknowledged the sign’s double meaning, describing it as a “play on words” aimed at making a point about procedural issues. She noted that the snowplow is usually part of their parade and said the wordplay was meant to be lighthearted, without incurring extra costs for taxpayers.
Madeira also confirmed that while county commissioners were indeed urging town leaders, they were merely asking for a public vote, which is required by state law, regardless of the outcome. She argued that any arrangement involving local law enforcement and another government entity should be formalized by an ordinance or resolution.
In response, Rokita issued an opinion on October 6 disputing this requirement, arguing that the Stinesville Police Department could legally enter the 287(g) agreement without needing town board approval. He emphasized that attempts by county officials to discourage Stinesville from continuing its agreement, such as withholding funding, could violate Indiana law.
Madeira disagreed with the attorney general’s advisory opinion. She asserted that, according to federal law, a written agreement is necessary between federal immigration authorities and local governments, specifying that the governing body in this instance is the town council, not just the police department.
She warned that if Rokita’s letter were upheld, it would set a concerning precedent by lacking public record of expenditures, auditing trails, and oversight of public funds. “All we’re asking for is transparency, so those in charge are accountable to the residents of Stinesville,” she added.
In a related case, she noted that the Claypool Town Council had previously suspended a town marshal for five days for entering a similar agreement without board approval.
McGlocklin mentioned that the board only received Rokita’s opinion at the start of their recent meeting and had not yet reviewed it thoroughly. He indicated that the funding would remain on hold until the town’s lawyer could analyze the letter.
Despite the ongoing funding dispute, the 287(g) agreement is still valid, and officers have finished their training, though reimbursement is pending. Pittman stated that there have been fewer than ten arrests under this program, emphasizing that for him, the crux is the funding issue.
“This is fundamentally about getting funding sorted out,” he clarified.
He hopes to find a way to sustain the department, whether through the current agreement or some reassessment from the state regarding the budget cuts that have impacted them.
A spokesperson for DHS remarked that cooperation with local law enforcement is crucial in apprehending criminal illegal aliens. They noted that the number of 287(g) partnerships has surged significantly since the beginning of President Trump’s second term.
“Seven of the ten safest cities in the U.S. collaborate with ICE,” the spokesperson added. “When local law enforcement is restricted from working with DHS, it becomes essential for us to increase our presence to locate and detain individuals who have been released back into communities.”
The town’s decision on whether to endorse the DHS agreement has been postponed until November, McGlocklin reported.
