Powers is county’s first female deputy

By: 
Stephanie Taylor Ferriell, Print Editor
The Washington County Sheriff’s Department made history with its most recent hire.
Deputy Abby Powers, who started this month, is the first female deputy to ever serve Washington County.
“I’m excited and proud to be a part of the first female being hired here,” said Sheriff Roger Newlon. “I can’t say enough about her.”
Newlon said Powers was highly recommended by the merit board, which is responsible for interviewing candidates and making a hiring recommendation. The current board, which must include both Republicans and Democrats, is comprised by Jason Wade, Neal Brewington, Greg Hopkins, Jimmy Tyler and Tom Day.
Powers, who is 25, said she was surprised to learn she is the first female deputy. “It’s exciting,” she said. “It’s an honor. I hope I do the best and represent and pave a good path for more females to come.”
Powers, a Trafalgar native, came to live in Washington County because she married a county native, Eric Powers. “He wanted to come back home and I followed along!” she quipped. The two live in Pekin and Eric Powers is an Indiana State Police trooper.
Abby Powers graduated from Ball State University in 2014 with a degree in exercise science, specializing in aquatics.
She was initially hired as a dispatcher at the sheriff’s department and when there was an opening for a deputy, applied for the job. She had previously worked as an EMT in Louisville. While she enjoyed that, “an EMT is only reactive, not proactive,” she said. “I wanted to do more.” With both her husband and brother serving as state troopers, Powers said her interest in law enforcement was piqued. “I knew it was something I wanted to do.”
Powers said her first job ever was as a lifeguard. “I came in slowly on the low end of the first responder field,” she said. College classes in scuba diving (she’s a certified diver) and emergency response only fed her interest in working with the public.
“I enjoy being with people from different backgrounds. It’s always exciting going to different things every day; you don’t know what to expect,” she said. “It keeps you on your toes.”
Powers said she could see, by looking at an Indiana map, that Washington County is one of the largest counties, geographically, in the state.
“It’s a little overwhelming at first to see how large it is,” she admitted. “You see it on the map, but when you drive around it gets a little bigger.”
Powers said she believes not being from the county and having a history with residents can be a plus. “It’s a clean slate,” she said. “Background can be helpful in some situations, but not by having it, you’re always given that clean slate, a fresh outlook.”
When she’s not on duty, Powers said she enjoys being outdoors and participating in water sports, especially kayaking. The couple’s Newfoundland, Boomer, likes to be on the water as well.
“I’m looking forward to the new adventure every day brings,” she said. She said county deputies develop closer connections with the community than state troopers have the opportunity to. “You have an impact in a small area. This job’s not for the money. It’s for the small rewards you find in helping people.” 
Newlon described Powers as very smart and friendly. “Abby is one of a kind,” he said. “When she started as a dispatcher she fit right in.”
Newlon said Powers brings a new set of skills to the department.
“I think as time goes on, she will be a great benefit because of her water experience. We’ve never had a scuba diver on the department. I’m excited to get her started.”
 

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