By SCOTT WEISSER
THE GOSHEN NEWS
GOSHEN —
A restraining order issued in Elkhart Circuit Court Wednesday has essentially frozen the assets of a former Indiana State Police post commander.
Dallard Tackett, 58, Nappanee, is under investigation for the alleged embezzlement of close to $80,000 in state funds. He resigned as head of the Toll Road post near Bristol last month.
The Indiana Attorney General filed a motion for a temporary restraining order Tuesday in Circuit Court. The intent was to freeze Tackett’s two accounts at First Source Bank and his State Police retirement fund account to prevent those assets from being transferred or spent. The Attorney General also wanted a lien placed on Tackett’s Nappanee home to prevent it from being sold or conveyed.
Judge Terry Shewmaker’s order grants most of that. However, Tackett said in court Wednesday that the pension will be the only money he has coming in. He also said he’s looking for work.
The attorney general’s motion was modified, with $750 withheld from the monthly pension payment but Tackett having access to the rest.
That amount may be revised up or down. Judge Shewmaker scheduled a status conference on the matter for Sept. 16.
Tackett told Shewmaker he intends to hire a lawyer. He also said it’s his understanding that State Police are pursuing this case as a criminal matter.
"So I’m getting a double whammy," he said. The attorney general’s filing this week was a civil lawsuit.
Tackett declined to comment to the media after the hearing.
State Police began an investigation when the agency reportedly discovered that some checks provided to the Bristol post by several county prosecutors had been misappropriated.
Normal procedure is for checks received from various prosecutors’ offender-diversion programs to be forwarded to the state police fiscal division in Indianapolis to fund equipment purchases and officer training.
The attorney general alleges that Tackett instead deposited the county checks payable to the ISP post into his own bank account and used the money for personal benefit.
Mike Bozymski, deputy state examiner for the state Board of Accounts, testified Wednesday that around $80,000 was misappropriated. A press release from the attorney general’s office the day before put that amount at $89,000.
Tackett began his career in 1979 at the Fort Wayne post and was assigned to patrol Adams County. He was promoted to corporal in 1983 and to sergeant in 1986. He moved to Nappanee in 1996 and assumed the rank of first sergeant, serving as assistant district commander at the Bremen post.
Tackett was promoted to lieutenant in 1999 and given the command of the Toll Road post.
Deputy Attorney General Luke Hodgin represented the state during Wednesday’s hearing.
Bill Wargo, chief investigator with the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office, said Wednesday night that the investigation is still in the hands of the Indiana State Police. As such, there’s been no decision by the county prosecutor on whether to file criminal charges against Tackett.
