Sheriff Jeffrey A. Balon was elected as the Porter County Sheriff beginning January 1, 2023.  Sheriff Balon has 34 years of law enforcement experience in Porter County.  He started his career as a police officer with the Valparaiso Police Department in 1992.  While at the Valparaiso Police Department he was assigned to various divisions.  He served in the patrol division for 12 years.  During that time, he was a supervisor, training coordinator and held various certifications.  He then spent 13 years in the investigations division and served as the Assistant Commander of the Northwest Indiana Major Crimes Task Force.  In these capacities, he investigated numerous high-profile cases to include homicides. Prior to being named as Chief of Police, he served as Captain of Investigations.

Since taking office, Sheriff Balon and his administrative team have put major focus on numerous topics both internally and externally surround public safety.  In total, there over 30 programs and initiatives put into place that include roadway safety, crime reduction and suppression, resource allocation and staffing, community outreach and engagement, employee recruitment and retention, mental health and wellness, physical fitness, substance use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery, jail programs to reduce recidivism, leadership training and many more.

Sheriff Balon holds an associate degree in Law Enforcement from Vincennes University, a  bachelor’s degree in Public Safety Management from Calumet College of St. Joseph, is a graduate of the Northwestern University, School of Public Safety, School of Police Staff and Command.  He also attended the Police Executive Leadership Academy.

Sheriff Balon is the 2026 President of the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association, the 2026 President of the Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and is a board member for the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.  Sheriff Balon was also awarded the 2025 Sheriff of the Year Award by the Indiana Criminal Justice Association.

Sheriff Balon is proudly married to his wife, Katie and combined have four children, Ty, Nicolette, Ella and Harrison.

• 2026 President of the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association
• 2026 President of the Northern Indiana Law Enforcement Academy
• 2026 President of the Porter County Safe School Commission
• 2026 Indiana Criminal Justice Association, Sheriff of the Year
• 2025 Multi Agency Academic Cooperative (MAAC), Excellence in Public Safety honoree
• Indiana Criminal Justice Institute Board of Trustee Member
• Respite House Board Member

• Put more Sheriff’s Officers on the streets of Porter County than ever before
• Created the Traffic Enforcement Division
• Created Project Safe Roads for traffic complaints
• Reimplemented the PCSO Flex Team (crime suppression and special details)
• Mandatory physical fitness standards for officers
• First ever agency Bomb Detection K9
• First ever agency Comfort K9 for victims of crimes, people in crisis and community relations
• Focus on recruitment and community outreach
• Implemented Jail Special Response Team
• Implemented Citizen Police Academy
• Created the L.O.S.S. Team (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors)
• Implemented Police Social Work Division
• Focus on Mental Health and Substance Dependency
• Implemented Emergency Medical Response certification
• Partnered with Ivy Tech to certify students through the Jail Certification Program
• Partnered with Portage Twp. Trustee and others to implement the Blue Envelope Program for drivers on the Autism Spectrum
• Sent agency supervisors to ILEA Leadership Academy
• Created the PCSO Marine Unit
• Several more internal and external programs that benefit our people and community