ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. — REAL News Michiana has learned St. Joseph County Sheriff William Redman requested to be taken off of street patrol early in his career because he feared being injured or killed. According to multiple law enforcement sources with knowledge of the incident, Redman was only on the street for a matter of weeks prior to his request to be moved into a safer role.
“Redman was on patrol for only maybe a month or so before he requested to be taken off of the street voluntarily. It was not a long time.” A former member of the St. Joseph County Police Department’s administration told RNM. The source, who was in the room at the time of the request, asked RNM not to use his name out of concern for retribution.
According to this source, and multiple others, Redman’s request came shortly after South Bend Police Department Corporal Paul Deguch was killed in the line of duty in August of 1997.
“(Redman’s) exact words were he was ‘uncomfortable being out on the street.’ He didn’t feel safe after Deguch was killed.” The source, who was in the room at the time of the request in 1997, said. “He said his wife didn’t want him to be out in a dangerous situation (too).”
“There are people who are scared, that’s fine.” The former administrative official told RNM. “There are places they can be put to take them out of more dangerous situations. Records, DARE, etc. where they can still contribute.” He added. “And, he was happy. He was off of the street.”
Redman started with the DARE program in 1997 and was there for nearly his entire career. Earlier this week, RNM published a story exposing the mismanagement of DARE funds while Redman was in charge of the program.
Redman did go back to patrol shortly before running for Sheriff as a Democrat in 2018.
Crime rates have surged during Redman’s time as Sheriff. Burglaries alone jumped more than 40 percent from 2019 to 2020.
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The stories about Redman are fact. I was on the Patrol , working midnights for the County at the time. I ran against Redman for Sheriff in 2018 and it seemed that know one cared about his lack of character. It’s sad that they elected a person like this.