Sgt. Todd Ringle says he’ll have to get used to not being at the forefront of big news stories.
“I won’t know what in the heck is going on,” says Ringle, who retired April 8 from the Indiana State Police’s Evansville Post after a 42-year run, including 25 as Public Information Officer. But it’s an adjustment he’s prepared to make. Having spent many years communicating with Tri-State media agencies — often on camera discussing breaking news at any time of day — Ringle says it’s time to hand over the reins.
The native of Fowler, Indiana, eyed a law enforcement career early in life. He studied criminal justice at Vincennes University and started with the state police in July 1984 as an Evansville Post dispatcher at only 20 years old. “I couldn’t apply for a trooper’s position, so I was a dispatcher to get my foot in the door,” he says.
After graduating from ISP’s recruit academy in November 1985, he was assigned back to District 35, which includes Vanderburgh, Warrick, Posey, Gibson, Pike, and Knox counties. He patrolled Pike for one year and then worked in Warrick until 2000, when he was promoted to sergeant and PIO.
Ringle was the agency’s public face from that point forward. He appeared regularly on Evansville television stations and spoke with print publications to convey safety tips or information about major crimes or traffic incidents. “I truly enjoyed doing what I did,” he says. “I always enjoyed working with the media. I never felt you guys were a pain. You had a job to do.” Ringle also made other public appearances, including at schools, on behalf of state police…