Cover Story
much, was able to help many, and led
Clark County in law enforcement. He
loved his job and often said that the
best part of being sheriff was the fact
that he was actually in a position to
help people, and for Mike, that was
what law enforcement was all about.
It was probably his greatest legacy.
In many ways, Mike was a pioneer
in Clark County Law Enforcement.
He accomplished most of his goals,
some of which had never before
been considered. He was the longest
serving sheriff in the history of Clark
County with four terms as sheriff
and also one term as chief deputy.
During his 16 years as sheriff, Mike
oversaw the construction of two new
jails. He was the first to hire a female
officer and seat a female on the
Clark County Sheriff’s Merit Board.
Above: Mike with President Bill Clinton in Washington D.C. (199)
He was president of the Indiana
Sheriffs’ Association and served as a
A Life Well Lived;
committee member for the National
Sheriffs’ Association. He traveled to
the White House and received a grant
A Job Well Served
from then President Bill Clinton from
the Federal Crime Bill that enabled
him to put five more officers on the

road. He established the first chain
S
By Sara Becher
gang in recent times in Indiana and
heriff Mike Becher lived his
prepared, always ready for the next appeared on the Phil Donahue Show
life to the fullest. What
step, always asking himself how he with other law enforcement officers
ever he did, he did with a
could turn a difficult situation into concerning this topic and other issues
desire to do his very best. It did
a good situation and make a good confronting law enforcement.
not make any difference if he were
situation even better.
putting up tents to house the inmates,
During his tenure as sheriff, Mike
testifying in front of a federal judge
Mike Becher would have been 58 initiated the Clark County K-9
about overcrowding, building a new
in January if he had lived. Instead, he assisted drug enforcement program,
jail, starting a chain gang, teaching
was only allowed 56 years, but they the Special Operations Unit, an
ethics for new reserve officers, having
were, in his words, “a wonderful 56 intern program for college students,
a discussion with the Department
years.” Before he even knew he was the Domestic Violence/Victims’
of Corrections, instructing his
sick, he said, “If 56 is all I get, I have Assistance Programs, swift water
grandsons, or taking care of his goats,
had a great life.” During his 1 years rescue, training for reserve officers,
Mike was always planning, always
as a police officer, he accomplished the Tom Robertson Gun Range and
1 March/April 2009
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