Former sheriff assumes new role serving Boone County

Maria Flora, The Lebanon Reporter, Ind.
·3 min read

Jan. 5—Former Boone County Sheriff Mike Nielsen retired from the department Wednesday and stepped into another role with the county on Thursday.

Nielsen is the new county projects manager and will oversee the $60 million Boone County Justice Complex project. Nielsen was instrumental in studying and implementing the project with Boone County Commissioners Don Lawson, Jeff Wolfe and former Commissioner Tom Santelli.

That trio named Nielsen the project manager in December.

Tim Beyer of Zionsville bested Santelli in the election and attended his first meeting as an elected commissioner this week.

Wolfe said Nielsen's background in multi-million-dollar project management, before he joined law enforcement, paired with his command of the inner workings and operations of correctional facilities made him the perfect fit for the county's project manager.

Nielsen told commissioners during their Tuesday meeting that little is happening at the project site, but plenty of preparation is going on behind the scenes, such as implementing financial and project management software. Construction drawings should be complete in about a week, and work may begin at the site within about six weeks, he reported.

The project will add administrative space, inmate beds, and space for inmate classes and mental health services, among other areas that need expansion in the current Boone County Jail. Nielsen advocated for better mental healthcare for inmates throughout the planning process. The new complex will also house Boone County Community Corrections and Probation and the Boone County Coroner's Office.

Nielsen began his law enforcement career with the Zionsville Police Department in 1983 and joined the Boone County Sheriff's Office as a reserve deputy in 1989. Returning to his roots, he is again a BCSO reserve deputy, and available to Sheriff Tony Harris, formerly his own chief deputy, as needed.

"I'm not tired of my job," Nielsen said Tuesday. "I love my job. I still get to work the road once in a while (as a reserve officer). That's where I came from. I'll be able to come out and help Tony however he needs, but I don't have to worry about the personnel issues and politics now."

Nielsen joined the BCSO as a merit deputy in 1994 and was named chief deputy in 2007. He was sheriff from 2014 until Wednesday. He could not seek re-election because of term limits and retired after nearly 40 years in law enforcement.

Nielsen graduated magna cum laude from Indian Wesleyan University with a master of science degree in business management. He worked for Fisher Controls International from 1982-1993, where he wore multiple hats, including as a corporate engineering and services director and as the project manager for multi-million-dollar projects in various industries and countries, according to his resume. In that capacity, he developed worldwide strategic planning of engineering and support services.

Gov. Eric Holcomb presented Nielsen with a Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 2021.

Nielsen has served Boone County in many capacities outside the normal duties of sheriff during his career, most notably in IT. Nielsen founded the Boone County Technology Team and managed modern technology installation in the Boone County Courthouse. He designed, installed and maintained the first-ever in-car law enforcement mobile data terminals in the state. And he managed a statewide 800 MHz radio system project, among other achievements.

Harris and BCJ Executive Secretary and Matron Brittany Hicks on Tuesday presented Nielsen with a wooden retirement box to hold his badge and other mementos of his career.

And commissioners on Tuesday declared the Colt 1911 handgun issued to Nielsen when he joined the BCSO to be surplus property and then gave it to him. Harris explained that sending an officer's firearm with him or her is standard procedure for anyone who serves 20 or more years on the department.