Youth Assistance & Crime Prevention Programs

"Our Priority Is You"

Since 2003, Johnson County Youth Assistance/Crime Prevention has provided informational and safety programs for schools and other organizations in Johnson County free of charge without the use of tax money. Private sponsors fund this division of the Sheriff's Office in their hope to help children prepare for modern safety issues.

Deputy Brian Baird was appointed head of this endeavor at its inception and Sheriff Doug Cox views the program as a positive influence on our youth and an educational practicality. Over the years, this program has grown into a yearly tradition that fulfills the ever-increasing need for child safety awareness in our county schools. The safety programs are primarily directed toward children aged kindergarten through fourth grade. Topics include the following:

• Personal Safety
• Alcohol, Drug, and Tobacco Awareness
• Bullying and Violence
• Internet Safety
• Gun Safety

All of these programs are written and produced by Johnson County Youth Assistance/Crime Prevention and include a video portion to enhance and solidify the content for the children. We also offer a program for adolescents called Decisions and Consequences to those who request it.

Alongside our program topics and videos, we have "Ruger," who joined the program in February 2006. Ruger is a certified and badged Search and Recovery K-9 in Johnson County.

During his time with the program, Ruger's gentle yet animated personality has won the hearts of the masses, and many would consider him the mascot of this division. He continually completes Search and Recovery demonstrations for the schools and other organizations in which he finds a randomly chosen member of the audience while he/she hides and awaits the "assistance" of the pooch's talented sniffer. Ruger's handler, Beth, accompanies him on these exploits and rewards Ruger when he shares his renowned "high-five" trick, among others, after he has finished his job.

Ruger completed his training in September 2007 with Indiana K-9 Search and Recovery, a group of professional volunteers who dedicate their time and talents to serve the community by training, handling, and dispatching Search and Recovery K-9's to help locate missing people.

We look forward to hearing from you if you desire our services in your school or organization, or if you have any questions about our programs. If you need assistance in finding a missing person, please contact the Johnson County Sheriff's Office directly.

To contact us:

Direct Office Phone: 317-738-4946
Sheriff’s Office: 317-738-9155
Fax: 317-738-9439
Direct Email: deputybaird@earthlink.net
Sheriff's Office: bbaird@co.johnson.in.us

1091 Hospital Road
Franklin, Indiana 46131