Marion County sheriff named ‘Indiana Sheriff of the Year’

Marion County Sheriff John Layton was named the “2014 Indiana Sheriff of the Year” by the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association at a conference this past weekend.

The winning sheriff is selected for the award by his or her peers, the sheriffs of Indiana’s 91 other counties. The honor was announced at the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association Summer Conference on Saturday.

Layton is the first Marion County sheriff to receive the award, according to a news release from his office.

In a news release Monday, Layton’s office listed several projects it said contributed to Layton’s selection, including national accreditations of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office by the American Correctional Association, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care.

During Layton’s tenure as sheriff, the office also opened Hope Hall, a facility for medium-security female inmates.

“He is always working to find ways to keep Marion County residents safer, with innovative and efficient approaches to managing the sex offender registry and the jail among other important aspects of public safety,” said Steve Luce, the executive director of the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association, in the news release.

Call Star reporter Jill Disis at (317) 444-6137. Follow her on Twitter: @jdisis.