The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office announced that Captain Derek Allen has been named as the Department’s new Public Information Officer, replacing recently retired Captain Michael Kellems. Captain Allen had most recently served as Jail Commander and will now assume the role of Executive Captain. In this position, he will oversee the Patrol Division, the Warrants Division, the Department’s School Resource Officers as well as serving as the Department’s spokesman. Captain Allen is a 17 year veteran of the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office, having been hired in 2001. He has served as patrol deputy, Detective Sergeant, Assistant Detective Bureau Commander and Jail Commander. He had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2011 and then promoted to Captain in 2016. He is a 1996 graduate of South Central High School and a 2001 graduate of Ball State University. He and his wife Megan and two children reside in Clinton Township.