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.
The basics of the role never changed; what did was how Ringle carried it out. “In the old days, you faxed the news releases,” Ringle says. “We had pagers. I remember many times the media paging me, and having to track down a phone to call, and I purchased my first cell phone. … The technology improved. We went from flip phones to smartphones — and that was probably one of the most important tools — then laptops with Wi-Fi. I could do everything from my patrol car and my phone, out in the field.”
In a press release, District 35 Commander Lt. William Gadberry said Ringle “has done an excellent job with our public outreach efforts, and his experience and positive outlook will be greatly missed.”
Ringle says he will keep some mementos from his four-plus decades of state police service, including “a uniform shirt with all the things on it, a badge, and a hat. And you get nice plaques.”
What’s next? A long motorcycle journey, for starters. Ringle will head west to the Rocky Mountains and north to Canada (where presumably no Evansville reporters on deadline will still be trying to reach him). The Warrick County resident plans to play more golf and spend time with family, including his wife, Linda, and seven grandchildren.
As he signed off the state police radio for the last time April 8 (going “10-42,” in police lingo), Ringle thanked his “extended family” at the Evansville Post. He says he always recognized the importance of the public information officer’s role. “Our troopers work diligently to help ensure our highways and communities are safe, and it was an honor to share their dedicated efforts,” he says.
