Wayne County Commissioner Aaron Roberts recently spent time at the White House speaking with presidential advisers during an opioid solutions conference in Washington, D.C.
Roberts said during the May 7 commissioners meeting that his law enforcement experience resulted in him being chosen as one of three Opioid Solutions Leadership Network Peer Exchange participants to visit the White House. The advisers took a lot of notes during the meeting that included a “very good, open dialogue,” Roberts said.
“They wanted to know about homelessness, they wanted to know about drug addiction, they wanted to know about overdoses in our communities,” Roberts said. “They wanted to know maybe some things that we could look at to help solve it.”
The discussion also included what won’t work, such as relying on arrests and incarceration.
“We need to find appropriate treatment for mental disability, drug overdoses, homelessness,” Roberts said.
Commissioner Jeff Plasterer noted that the Stride Center, run through Centerstone, provides a “really good option” other than jail for Wayne County individuals struggling with mental or drug issues. The county supports the Stride Center with Health First Indiana money; however, the new two-year state budget approved by the legislature and signed by Gov. Mike Braun decreases Health First Indiana funding. Plasterer said the commissioners might need to evaluate how to continue supporting the crisis center.
The White House discussion included acknowledgment that there’s not one solution or treatment.
“It’s going to be multiple avenues because not everybody responds to the same treatment,” Roberts said.
Overall, Roberts found the conference informative.
“One of the big things that they really talked about, and one of the key factors that, I believe, that everybody is wanting to start hitting is more early education, more early prevention, more early intervention,” he said. “That’s really the push and the focus that a lot of people are wanting to go for with some of the opioid settlement money.”
The Indiana Attorney General’s office estimates Wayne County will receive $239,072.64 this year from settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors, addressing their accountability for the opioid crisis. The commissioners briefly discussed establishing a process for county entities to apply for funding. An advisory committee through the health department has been established to assist with funding decisions and priorities with Health First Indiana and opioid settlement money.
Officer handguns
Sheriff Randy Retter received commissioner approval to purchase handguns to arm the entire enforcement division and part of the jail division.
The total cost for 51 Glock 47 handguns with Aimpoint optics is $28,857 from Kiesler Police Supply in Jeffersonville. Each handgun would cost $767, and the department would receive $270 in trade for 38 used handguns.
The new handguns would replace weapons that were acquired in 2019. Retter would complete replacement for the jail division next year.
A version of this article appeared in the May 14 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.