How do I start? I have known Sheriff Newton for most of my life. I consider him a great friend. Through the years I have always kept my eye on Huntington even when I was away at Indiana University Bloomington and living up in Fort Wayne. I have also kept a close eye on the many people I know including friends. I would say for at least 15 years maybe more I have felt like Sheriff Newton would be the perfect Sherriff or leader in the community. The last 10 years I have thought Huntington cannot get this guy in a powerfull position of leadership fast enough whether it be Sherriff, Mayor, City Council, Congress and the list goes on. Much like my friend Chad Daugherty (HCCSC Superintendent) I feel like he was groomed to be the next Sherriff of Huntington or some area of leadership for years. My friend Mayor Steve Updike is another one I felt this way about. I have told many people including these people themselves for probably at least 10 to 15 years before it happened they should pursue these positions. Every single one of these men did it. I may be the only person in Huntington that wasn’t surprised because I seen all of these men taking those positions years before they became reality!
Sherriff Chris Newton is full of positive energy despite the challenges he faces on his job (Facing the Negative so Huntington can have a more positive life). His social media accounts are like a ray of sunshine. I personally nominate Sheriff Chris Newton’s smile as the best smile in Huntington. I am instantly happy when I see him regardless what kind of day I am having.
I remember Sherriff Newton serving as an EMT right out of high school and being so proud that I could call a guy like that a friend. You could see his passion serving others in the community at the 4H Fair and other events throughout the year in the community. I also felt very safe and in great hands having him there in case of an emergency or I may need him. It is one thing to have someone like him in the community on your side keeping everyone safe, it is another having someone like that you can call friend. It is a super great feeling.
What further enhances that great feeling is that I have the honor of calling his wife the Honorable Judge Jennifer Newton a lifelong friend as well. They have been bringing up their children by teaching them the same values as they live by serving others which is part of “Loving Others as much as yourself” & “Fighting the Good Fight”! We need more Newton’sin this world and they are not only being great servants to society but they are bringing up more servants for future generations. The city of Huntington is truly blessed by having them here serving us!
As you know the story goes on as Sherriff Newton ended up getting into Law Enforcment and it didn’t take long to find out that this is his true passion. I seen this years earlier. Let me tell you a short story that he may or may not remember and may get a good laugh from reading it.
We both were still in High School. Target is my favorite big retail store so when Huntington had Target I was always happy to be in there. One day I was up there with my mother and was separated from her looking at the CD’s and all kinds of other things. It was a busy day in Target and it was almost spring I think. All of a sudden I see this blond haired guy looking directly at what I thought was me with razor eyes. Wherever I walked he was there. I said “Hey Newton” not one word came out of his mouth. I was like what is going on were friends and he hasn’t said anything. I honestly was flipping out and didn’t know if he was mad at more or something. I was a little scared thinking well this is my first fight ever in school and it is going to happen in Target in front of everyone and I am going to be knocked out because I am not a fighter and will not fight back. I even started to panic and wanted to find my mother fast.
Turns out there must have been a group of kids in there trying to steal CD’s that I was unware of. I don’t know if Chris was working for Target in Loss prevention at the time or what, but as I was leaving the Chris I have always known with that smile looked at me and said “Hey Joe” and at that point I realized what was going on.
So at a young High School Age Sherriff Chris Newton was very focused and centered on “Fighting The Good Fight”! Even when he was an EMT I was wondering when he would get into Law Enforcement and was not surprised when he did indeed become a deputy on the Sherriff’s department.
As he was serving as a deputy Sherriff Chris Newton created one of the best community programs Huntington has ever seen, and has gained attention as one of the best community programs in Indiana and that is “Camp Hero”! I talked to Sherriff Terry Stoffel (Another very good friend and Hero of Huntington) about Sherriff Newton and how he was going to be the HNN Person Of The Year, and he told me to make sure to mention just how big of a role he played while under him like creating “Camp Hero”!
I also had the honor of shooting “Camp Hero” for him a couple of years back and have had a niece and a nephew go through the program.
When you are friends with great people like Sherriff Newton, Mayor Updike, Sherriff Stoffel, Judge Newton, and Huntington Prosecutor Amy Richardson you are able to see where they are headed years before and you just want to tell the world how great they would be in these positions and you do start the conversation trying to get the community or society to see what you know. You just wish they could take those position right now because you already know what society is about to find out.
So much like when Mayor Steve Updike finally became the Mayor of Huntington there was a great sense of joy, satisfaction, and relief when my friend Chris Newton won Sherriff of Huntington County. I mean furthermore to show just how strong of a case he made to be our next Sherriff he ran un opposed, something I never seen in Huntington.
“Loving others as much as yourself” is what I live by including the running of this page. The “Person of the Week or Year” is based on that and other things like accomplishments. I take these awards very serious and want the people I name to these awards to embody these traits along with accomplishments.
I was talking to a very good friend of mine lastnight Christine Patrick (She has a nephew who is also a good friend pf mine Deputy Kevin Patrick who also served as HCCSC School Board president for years very good friends with the Patrick Family in Huntington) who babysat Chris Newton when he was a little kid and she said she always loved watching Chris and just loved him as a little kid.
To me there is not one person in Huntington, Indiana who represents servanthood, “Loving Others as Much as Yourself” than Sherriff Chris Newton! Congrats my friend nobody deserves it more than you do.
P.S. Were you working with Loss Prevention at Target that day? Something I have always wanted to know but always forget to bring it up when I am around you!
SHERRIFF CHRIS NEWTONS PORTFOLIO:
OVERALL BACKGOUND INFORMATION
Christian E. Newton, Chief Deputy
Huntington County Sheriff’s Department
332 East State Street
Huntington, Indiana 46750
Phone: 260-224-1267
Chris was born and raised in Huntington, Indiana
Education:
Graduate of Huntington North High School in 1990
Graduate of Bluffton Regional Hospital from Basic EMT schooling in 1991
Graduate of Delaware County, Indiana from Advanced EMT schooling in 1992
Graduate of Huntington Memorial Hospital from Paramedic School in 1996
Graduate of Huntington County Leadership Academy in 2006
Training & Certifications:
Certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support
Certified in Basic Trauma and Life Support
Certified in Pediatric Advanced Life Support
Experience:
Served as a Paramedic in Huntington & Whitley County in Indiana
Was Youth Counselor for Huntington Adolescent Residential Center
Volunteer for Huntington County Emergency Management in 1994
Awards:
Awarded the “Good Samaritan” award from the Huntington County Humane Society for his work with animals in Huntington County in 2003
BACKGOUND INFORMATION IN HIS FIELD
Christian E. Newton, Chief Deputy
Huntington County Sheriff’s Department
332 East State Street
Huntington, Indiana 46750
Phone: 260-224-1267
Education:
Graduate of Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 1998
Will be attending the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia - Class #246 in 2016
Experience:
Joined the Huntington County Sheriff’s Reserves Program in 1995
Joined the Huntington County Sheriff’s Rescue Squad in 1996
Hired as a full-time Deputy with the Huntington County Sheriff’s Department in 1998
Became the K-9 handler for the Huntington County Sheriff’s Department in 1999 with K-9 partner, Booker
Served as an Indiana State Police Counselor for the “Respect for Law Camp” during the years of:
2001, 2002 and 2003
Promoted to Detective at the Huntington County Sheriff’s Department in 2009
Placed on the Allen County Drug Task Force in 2010
Promoted to Chief Deputy of the Huntington County Sheriff’s Department under current Sheriff, Terry Stoffel in 2011
Took the position of Assistant Commander of District #3 Law Enforcement Task Force in 2011
Promoted to Commander of District #3 Law Enforcement Task Force in 2014
Certificates:
Computer Cyber Crimes & Forensics Drug Investigations
K-9 Tactical Patrol & Detection Breath Test Operator – Indiana University
Rave Clubs & Designer Clubs Investigations Advanced Tactical K-9 Training
Drug Interdiction Thermographer Investigations (Thermal)
Undercover Investigations DWI/Drug Investigations
National Incident Management Introduction Incident Command
Police & Civil Liability Reid School of Interviewing & Investigations
Finding Words Certified For Child Interviewing Forensic Investigations for Cellular Phone
OC Spray Certified Taser Certified
Kinesic Interview & Interrogation STOPS Certified
At Scene Traffic Investigations Active Shooter Speaker
National Level Exercise for District #3 Task Force Leadership School
Forensic Investigator – Fort Wayne Sexual Assault Center
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND AWARDS
Christian E. Newton, Chief Deputy
Huntington County Sheriff’s Department
332 East State Street
Huntington, Indiana 46750
Phone: 260-224-1267
1993 – Indiana’s Governor’s Ambulance Competition – First Place
1994 – Indiana’s Governor’s Ambulance Competition – First Place
1995 – Indiana’s Governor’s Ambulance Competition – First Place
Competed in the Fort Wayne Ambulance Competition and won First & Third Place
2001 – Received “Officer of the Year” award from the Exchange Club in Huntington, Indiana
2002 – Received a commendation from Sheriff, Rodney Jackson of the Huntington County Sheriff’s Department for jumping into the swollen Wabash River to rescue a young boy who had fallen in and had gone under the water, ultimately saving the young boys life.
2003 – Received an “Award of Valor” from the North American Work Dog Association for the heroic efforts that saved the young boy that had fallen into the Wabash River
2005 – Awarded “Officer of the Year” from the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Organization for a high number of drunk driving arrests.
2006 – Received a Commendation from Sheriff, Kent Farthing of the Huntington County Sheriff’s Department for using an AED and saving a man’s life that had suffered cardiac arrest.
2009 – Extensive amount of criminal arrests from Child Molesting, Drugs and Burglary, resulting in his promotion to Detective at the Huntington County Sheriff’s Department.
2011 – Received a letter of Commendation for saving the life of a suicidal subject
2012 – Started a youth camp in Huntington County called Camp H.E.R.O. (Honer, Excellence, Respect & Opportunity). This is a week-long camp for kids between the ages of 8 & 13. At a cost of $60.00 per child they are taught all facets of emergency services. The purpose of the camp is to increase communication and forge friendships with kids between those in emergency services. Counselors are made up of County Sheriff’s, City Police, State Police, Conservation Officers and the Fire Department. The camp has been held every year since 2012 and to this date approximately 600 kids have attended.
2014 – Awarded third place in the Indiana Sheriff’s Association annual competition pistol shoot
2015 – Awarded first place in the Indiana Sheriff’s Association annual competition pistol shoot
2016 – Received the VFW Gold Medal Award
Chris currently served on the following Board of Directors for the following organizations:
Huntington County Leadership Program
Red Cross
Police Athletic League (PAL)
School Safety Committee
Youth Service Bureau
Emergency Management
Boys & Girls Club
Local Anti-Drug Coalition Efforts
Huntington County Dispatch
Indiana Sheriff’s Association
Sheriff’s Department
The Huntington County Sheriff’s Department shall provide the most professional, effective and courteous police service possible, at all times ALWAYS..!
-The protection of life and property will be our primary focus.
-We will uphold and defend the federal and Indiana state constitution.
-We will address crimes and offenders with diligent, conscientious and proactive initiatives.
-We will assist the public and all police agencies at any time and in any manner possible.
-We shall regard our office as a public trust and in the discharge of our duties, be constantly mindful of our primary obligation to serve the public efficiently and effectively.
-We shall administer the law and our duties in a just, impartial and reasonable manner regardless of an individual’s race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, color or disability.
Sheriff, Christian E. Newton
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