To the editor:
This letter is in support of electing Judge Scott Sirk as the Hancock County Circuit Court Judge.
Initially, Judge Scott Sirk was the chief deputy prosecutor under then-Prosecutor Terry Snow for four years. Judge Sirk has presided as Hancock County Court Commissioner over Children in Need of Services (CHINS), family law and small claims cases in all three Hancock County Courts in the absence of Judge Dan Marshall, Judge Terry Snow and Judge Richard Culver. He served in that capacity for eight years.
When Judge Richard Culver retired, Scott Sirk became the full-time Circuit Court Judge and has served in that capacity for the past 12 and a half months. His credentials are impeccable. Importantly, his honesty, high integrity, compassionate leadership, ethics and experience make him over-the-top qualified to remain on the Circuit Court Bench.
Judge Scott Sirk has the total respect and unequivocal support of all past and present law enforcement leaders in all of Hancock County: former Hancock County Sheriff and former Indiana State Representative Nick Gulling; Chief Bob Ehle, New Palestine Police Department; current Hancock County Sheriff Mike Shepherd; former Hancock County Sheriff Jim Bradbury; Chief Dennis Hoppes, Wilkinson Police Department; Chief William Knauer, Fortville Police Department; Chief Michael Crooke, Cumberland Police Department; Chief Jeff Rausche, Greenfield Police Department; and myself, retired Indiana State Police captain and former chief of Greenfield Police Department. He also has the complete support of former Circuit Court Judge Richard Culver.
Judge Sirk continues the Drug Court initiative of Judge Richard Culver to change behavior of participants. He supports use of programs similar to the Drug Court model with the mentally ill and some of our veterans having difficulty assimilating back into the community. He is committed to having mental health professionals and community support groups and programs reduce recidivism and fight the drug crisis that is such a scourge on our society. Every responsible citizen in Hancock County will hopefully get behind and support Judge Scott Sirk as Hancock County Circuit Court Judge.
Clarke Mercer
Greenfield
