When Bob Dine retired from the Greenwood Police Department earlier this summer after 41 years, he contemplated what he would do next.
It didn’t take him long to realize he wanted to continue serving his community, he said.
The former police chief was sworn in as the newest member of the Greenwood City Council on Thursday night during the Johnson County Republican Party’s caucus to fill the seat of former council member Chuck Landon, who died last month.
“What’s important to me is my faith, my family, my country and my city,” Dine said during his victory speech. “I have dedicated my life to Greenwood.”
Eight Greenwood residents applied for the seat: Andrew Foster, a deputy prosecutor; Randy Goodin, who serves on the city’s Economic Development Commission; Tiffany Woods, a schools liaison and former teacher; Ron Deer, who previously served on the city council for 24 years; David Payne, who ran for mayor of Greenwood twice; Paul Reed, a former Johnson County Council member and Center Grove school board member; Jim Oxley, who has served on several local school boards and non-profit boards; and Dine.
A second caucus is scheduled for Sept. 18 to replace former council member Brent Corey, who resigned recently. As of Friday afternoon, five people had applied for his at-large seat, including three who ran in the first caucus.
In a letter, Corey said he resigned because he no longer lives in Greenwood. State police have recently searched his Greenwood business, Sizemore Insurance Agency, as part of an investigation that began in July.
The 41 precinct committee members who were tasked with selecting the next city council member cast five rounds of votes. Dine was selected by a simple majority of 22 votes, narrowly beating Foster, who at one point during the caucus was leading.
Reed and Woods remained on the ballot until the end, but Reed never had more than six votes, and Woods never had more than four. Fifty-one people were eligible to vote during the caucus, county Republican Party chairwoman Beth Boyce said. Precinct committee members cast secret ballots.
Dine told voters Thursday night his family has ties to Greenwood dating back to the 1800’s when his great-great-grandfather was town marshal. His grandparents owned a grocery store on Main Street for 45 years. And his dad owned a gas station in the city.
As police chief, he was also president of Johnson County Emergency Management for five years.
“I bring a whole different perspective than anybody else can in this room. I was on the streets for 41 years, driving alleyways. I have been in homes. I have been in places that I really didn’t want to go, but because people needed the police, I was there,” Dine told voters.
“I know how to investigate. I know how to ask the hard questions. I don’t want to be a rebel and I will not impede progress. But I will ask the tough questions to make sure the taxpayers are getting the best for their money, and we’re keeping Greenwood a safe place for your families.”
He said he plans to spend the next couple weeks learning about the current issues, including a mystery company that is asking for tax breaks from the city, so he can make sound decisions at the next council meeting Sept. 17.
“I want to make sure I have an intelligent vote on everything,” he said.
Dine plans meet with his constituents every eight weeks, he said.
“If there is construction or something that people seem to be frustrated with, I’ll go door to door and hand out fliers to let people know where to find me … tell them this is where I’m going to be.”
He is excited about the freedom to express his opinions and be a voice for the people now, he said.
“My role as a police officer was a job. Nothing was ever personal,” Dine said. “But this is a new chapter of my life.”
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Next caucus
What: Greenwood’s Republican Party precinct committee members will conduct a caucus to select a new at-large city council member to replace Brent Corey, who recently resigned.
When: 7 p.m. Sept. 18
Where: Greenwood City Center
Who picks: 51 precinct committee members will cast secret ballots to pick a new city council member after Brent Corey’s resignation
Deadline: Residents who have lived in Greenwood for at least one year and wish to join the city council must apply in writing by 7 p.m. Sept. 15 to Johnson County Republican Party Chairwoman Beth Boyce at 845 Richart Lane, Greenwood, IN 46142.
Candidates so far: Paul Reed, Ron Deer, Jim Oxley, Linda Meier and John Lindstrom
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