'One-of-a-kind leader': Carmel selects new police chief

Carmel announced the selection of its new police chief on Thursday, capping off a hiring process that lasted nearly three months.

Drake Sterling, who most recently served as captain for the Zionsville Police Department, will take over as leader of the Carmel Police Department starting Feb. 29. Sterling was selected after the city began accepting resumes just before Thanksgiving.

Drake Sterling's experience

Sterling was assistant SWAT Commander for the Boone County Special Response Team and through various roles with the Zionsville Police Department, he oversaw community outreach, patrol, investigations, training, budgeting, fleet management, contracts and hiring.

“Drake is a one-of-a-kind leader in law enforcement as evidenced by recognition from his peers for excellence and devotion to duty," said Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam in a news release. “Leading what I believe to be the best police department in the country, taking care of those who wear the uniform and working closely with me as we keep public safety the top priority, is a position that Drake is well-suited for."

Sterling is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, holds a graduate certificate in criminal justice from the University of Virginia and is a graduate of the Public Service Leadership Institute and the Indiana Police Chief Training Program. He is also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

“Leadership is challenging," Sterling said. "We must be willing to meet people, both our employees and the citizens we serve, where they are at. We must do so with humility, patience and respect for our differences. My leadership philosophy is rooted in three principles: establishing expectations, investing in people, and empowerment.”

Where is Carmel chief Jim Barlow going?

Sterling will take over for Jim Barlow, who came out of retirement in July 2022 for a second stint as police chief in Carmel.

Barlow, who assisted in the search for his replacement, will once again be retiring. In 2022, Barlow returned as police chief after the resignation of Jeff Horner.

Horner was police chief for about six months then was re-assigned to a lieutenant position with the department after resigning from the police chief position. The city did not answer questions about the reason for Horner's resignation at that time.

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Barlow’s first retirement came in January 2022. He has worked for the Carmel Police Department for around 40 years. Barlow started with late-night shifts in the patrol division then moved from criminal investigations to special investigations with Carmel Police's drug task force.

During his career, Barlow saw promotions from sergeant to lieutenant to major. He served in leadership roles in the patrol division and the support division, ultimately becoming assistant chief. Barlow was appointed to chief of police in 2017 by former Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard.

In its news release, the city did not say when Barlow's last day with the department will be.

Before the new chief was selected, recently elected Finkam said it was likely the most important decision she would make in her four years in office.

"I said in my campaign that my top priority was public safety and I hope what the residents and the community take away from this comprehensive, very thorough process ... is that we're putting words to action,” Finkam said.

How was Drake Sterling selected as the new Carmel chief of police?

The search for a new police chief began with a job posting in November.

Finkam’s search committee included Barlow, Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter, members of the Carmel Fraternal Order of Police, the city’s director of human resources, a current and former member of the Police Department Merit Board and members of the mayor’s transition team.

The applicants were whittled down for on-site interviews with the committee. They were asked to present their philosophy on policing and put through different scenarios during the on-site interviews.

Four of the applicants got one-on-one interviews with the mayor and then were background checked by the Indiana State Police before Sterling was ultimately selected. The city did not identify its other finalists.

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“It's been long and drawn out on purpose because I wanted to make sure they really wanted this, and they were willing to run through the gauntlet to be the Carmel police chief,” Finkam said before the selection was announced. “Nothing is of higher priority than the safety of our community."

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett earlier this week named a new leader of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department after Randal Taylor announced he was stepping down in December. Christopher Bailey, who had been in the position of acting chief, is the new police chief in Indianapolis.

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Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jake_Allen19.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Carmel selects Drake Sterling as new police chief