INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) announced today that four commanders are now in place to continue development of the regional emergency response task forces evolving into a statewide network of emergency support.
"These confirmations serve as the capstone achievement in structuralizing a concept that has been developing since 2005," said IDHS Executive Director Joe Wainscott. "Before, during and after a disaster, the commanders have a great amount of responsibility. They are expected to oversee the structure, development, direction and response efforts of their region's maturing emergency response task force."
The ten task forces are in different stages of development, but expected to be fully formed and operational by spring of 2012. 
Staffed with local firefighters, law enforcement personnel, emergency medical services personnel, emergency managers, and other local emergency response professionals, the District Response Task Forces will support county emergency management agencies within the district.

The accompanying map indicates the counties each task force serves primarily, but together, they will form a statewide network of mutual emergency support.
During a disaster or other emergency, if the response capabilities of one or more impacted counties are overwhelmed, this network of task forces will provide a clear modus operandi for rapidly mobilizing support.
Under the guidance of IDHS, the district concept streamlines the mutual aid process enabling the counties in each district to directly support each other, and in turn, the districts to support each other as well. The system is expected to build relationships among emergency responders and increase their knowledge of available resources and capabilities to promote resource sharing.
"The crux of mutual aid agreements is resource sharing," said Wainscott. "When equipment and personnel in every region can be made available to the entire state, we can have a much stronger response than if each county must stand on its own. When disaster strikes, we will be ready to act as a team to support and collaborate with local, state and federal partners to meet the needs of Hoosiers."
Recommended by regional emergency response planning councils, IDHS has confirmed the appointment of four response task force commanders so far and plans to consider the remaining six nominees before the end of the year.
The commanders will be responsible for overseeing daily administrative operations, and recruiting resources to establish and expand the capabilities of the task force they oversee.
When counties need additional assistance, the commanders will coordinate significant resources to assist emergency responders in their own geographic region and, if necessary, in other areas of the state.
 The duties of the task force commander are voluntarily assumed as an extension of the commanders' current positions. The commanders serve in their local communities as firefighters, law enforcement personnel, medical services personnel, emergency response planners, and in other public service roles. Commanders also have the option to appoint one, or more, deputy commanders to assist them.
 Russell L. Shirley, Task Force Commander for District 1, spent more than twenty years with the Valparaiso Police Department, achieving the rank of Detective Lieutenant. During his tenure at the Valparaiso P.D., Shirley was named Police Officer of the Year in 1988 and 1992, and honored with the Valparaiso Police Department Medal of Merit and LaPorte County Commissioners' Lifesaving Award. Throughout his professional career, Shirley has helped his community as vice president of the Porter County Chapter of Prevent Child Abuse, chairman of the Local Emergency Planning Committee, Chairman of the Porter County Emergency Management Advisory Council, and Captain of the Porter County Hazardous Materials Response Team.
It is expected that Commander Shirley will appoint a deputy soon.
 Richard Doyle, Task Force Commander for District 4, served in the United States Marine Corps from 1978 to 1982. He then served as a firefighter for thirteen years with the Tippecanoe County Fire Department. During this time, Doyle organized and founded the Tippecanoe County Fire Investigation Task Force and the Fire Prevention Show. He achieved the rank of Deputy Chief before becoming the department training officer. In his current role, Doyle has directed the utilization of more than $270,000 in IDHS grants and organized the District Training Council. He also serves as the Lafayette Fire Department Water Rescue Team Leader.
Deputy Commander Mike Blann is the Assistant Chief of Special Operations with the Lafayette Fire Department.

Deputy Commander Jeff Houston is the Emergency Medical Services Coordinator for Tippecanoe County.
 Shannon Henry, Task Force Commander for District 6, has spent most of his professional career providing emergency care for his community. He was presented with multiple awards as an Emergency Medical Technician Captain of the Albany EMS and Advanced EMT Sergeant of the Delaware County EMT. These include the State of Indiana Otis R. Brown Rescue Award and the Albany EMS Volunteer of the Year Award in 1987. In 1990, he was awarded the Muncie Jaycees Outstanding EMT Award. He then moved to the Albany Police Department where he received the Albany Police Award of Heroism and Officer of the Year in 1994. While maintaining his position at the Albany PD, Henry is also the Assistant Chief of the Albany Fire Department, and won Albany Firefighter of the Year in 1996 and 1999.
Deputy Commander Kevin Anderson is the Chief Deputy of the Albany Police Department in Delaware County.

Deputy Commander Jason Rogers is the Delaware County Emergency Management Agency Director.
 Melissa Buell, Task Force Commander for District 7, has an extensive background in planning, training, and exercise preparedness for emergency response agencies. After graduating from Indiana State University with a degree in Nursing, Buell has worked as a floor charge nurse at Community Hospital East in Indianapolis, and also a public health nurse for the Vermillion County Health Department. From 2004 to 2008, Buell was the public health preparedness coordinator for Vermillion County. She was also a member of the National Medical Integrated Process Team for the Federal Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP). Buell is a district administrator for IDHS.
Deputy Commander Chris Lunsford is the Director for the Owen County Ambulance Service.

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