The Zionsville Police Department (ZPD) announces the members of the Use of Force Board. The Use of Force Board is comprised of three members of the Zionsville Police Department (Captain Marius Klykken, Lt. Drake Sterling and Det. Joshua Samuelson) and two civilian members (Kenneth Johnson, appointed by Mayor Emily Styron and Monisha Mitchell, appointed by the Board of Police Commissioners).
Kenneth Johnson is the North America Precision Agriculture Market Development Lead for FMC Corporation. Prior to his roles in the agriculture sector, Kenny served six years in the U.S. Army which included time as an Admissions Officer at his alma mater, West Point, and a 15-month deployment to Afghanistan where he earned a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Army Commendation Medal with Valor. Kenny resides in Zionsville with his wife Erin and two daughters. Kenny is excited to continue his service by working with ZPD and the Use of Force Board.
Monisha Mitchell is a licensed therapist with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. She attends Traders Point Christian Church, volunteers at Wheeler Mission in Indianapolis and serves on the board of the Zionsville Moms Group. She is proud to call Zionsville home where she lives with her five-year-old son, not far from her adult children and granddaughter on the north side of Indy. Monisha looks forward to the opportunity to serve cares deeply about issues involving social justice and the safety of our community.
Captain Marius Klykken has served ZPD for 10 years, Lt. Drake Sterling has served for 10 years and Det. Samuelson has served for 10 years.
ZPD established a board to review internal policies regarding use of force. Policies and training opportunities are being carefully examined by this board. Use of force actions taken by police officers will be reviewed by the board to ensure compliance with department policies and applicable law. The board will submit its findings to the Chief of Police along with recommendations for policy changes, training or other improvements.
“Prior to George Floyd’s death, we began reviewing our policies to align them with a standard that is recognized across the country,” said Mayor Emily Styron. “We have been looking at all our policies and actions, knowing this is an opportunity for us to learn and grow both as an organization and alongside the community.”
“We have established a Use of Force Board to examine all incidents involving force within our police department,” said Police Chief Spears. “I want us to review every incident of force to determine appropriateness and discuss alternative ways the incident may have been handled. In addition to the Use of Force Board, members of the Zionsville Police Department will receive specific training on implicit bias and systemic racism. We want our police officers to receive the most contemporary instruction to help ensure their understanding of these important issues and work to make improvements.”