There’s a new sheriff candidate in town. Marion County Republicans have tapped Southport Police Chief Tom Vaughn, a 30–year law enforcement veteran, to run for Marion County Sheriff in one of the most challenging political environments in the state.
Vaughn began his career in 1997 with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, where he worked inside the jail, handled court security, and helped secure county facilities. He later joined the Indianapolis Park Rangers, policing more than 180 park properties across the city. That assignment, he says, helped him develop skills in de-escalation, community contact, and working with families and youth in less traditional law enforcement settings.
In 2014, Vaughn was hired as police chief in Southport, a small city on the south side of Marion County. Southport has maintained relatively low crime among residents, with most incidents involving people passing through from neighboring jurisdictions. Vaughn’s tenure has not been without controversy; he was reinstated after discord with the mayor, according to a report in Mirror Indy
Vaughn argues that his combination of jail operations, court experience, patrol work, and department leadership gives him a broad understanding of the criminal justice system and the Sheriff’s Office.
Vaughn says his top priority if elected sheriff will be to improve safety, training, and professionalism inside the Marion County Jail. A certified law enforcement instructor through the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy since 2001, he is critical of what he views as inadequate preparation for detention deputies and insufficient tools to deal with problems such as drugs in the jail.
He contends that the current three–week training course for detention staff is not enough for the demands they face and wants to see a stronger emphasis on training, equipment, and technology. That includes exploring full-body scanning technology for everyone entering the jail in an effort to reduce contraband. Vaughn also says he hears concerns from deputies about staffing levels, personal safety, fairness in promotions, and a lack of clear direction and vision.
Beyond the jail, Vaughn has also raised concerns about juvenile crime, particularly the number of young offenders found with firearms and what he describes as a lack of meaningful consequences. He argues that the system needs to be more consistent in holding juveniles accountable and believes parents should, in some cases, be held responsible when minors gain easy access to guns in the home.
Vaughn has been openly critical of the IMPD–Sheriff merger, saying it has not functioned as intended and that the Sheriff’s Office has gradually given up several core responsibilities. He is calling for better cooperation among the Sheriff’s Office, IMPD, and the “excluded cities” and surrounding communities, arguing that crime is regional and agencies need to work together regardless of uniform or patch.
Politically, Vaughn faces a steep climb. Marion County is roughly 65–35 Democratic, making it one of the least favorable counties in the state for Republican candidates running countywide. Vaughn acknowledges the uphill battle but says he hopes voters will look beyond party labels and focus on his experience, priorities for the jail, and plans for improving public safety and cooperation across the county.
He will face Democrat Kelvis T. Williams, who won the party’s nomination in the primary, in the fall.
