Caleb Berry exudes pride and optimism.
The 23-year-old road deputy who joined the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office just over a year ago, is passionate about his career choice and hopes to help recruit others like him to consider a law enforcement career.
“It’s a calling for me,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to help people in some form or another.”
Growing up in Avon, he first encountered school resource officers in the fifth or sixth grade, and was drawn to them. Later in high school, he admired the relationships these officers built with students.
“I would say I really solidified my career choice while in high school,” he said.
After graduating from Avon High School in 2017, Berry attended IUPUI. He graduated in May 2021 with a degree in public safety management.
He was the first male in his family to pursue a career outside of the railroad.
“Both my dad’s side of the family and my mom’s side of the family all worked for the railroad,” he said. “It was me and a male cousin who joined the Marines to break that pattern.”
Berry’s parents knew early on he was on a different path, and were supportive.
While in high school, Berry attended a criminal justice program at Area 31 Career Center. His mentor there was an instructor who had worked at both the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and Marion County Sheriff’s Department.
“He really helped push me along and told me I’d make a good officer some day,” Berry said. “That really pushed me, made me work even harder in college to fulfill my dreams of becoming an officer ... he told me I had a great heart and a great mind to do this job.”
Of the 30 students in that class, Berry was the only one to become a police officer.
As part of a college program, Berry worked with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department in a civilian role.
“We got to work hand in hand with the deputies at the city-county building in Indy,” he said.
He spent about 2 1/2 years in that special college program, and enjoyed learning about the internal workings of a department. Near the end of the program he was promoted to their academy and assisted with recruitment.
Shortly after graduating from IUPUI, Berry received a job offer from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
He knew a little about the Crawfordsville community because it is the half-way point for his Georgetown, Illinois family and his Avon family to meet — something they did regular when Berry was a child.
Berry bought a house here, and is looking forward to long career in law enforcement. He is a member of the Fraternal Order of Police.
“I do like the area, and it’s really grown on me a lot,” he said.
He enjoys the freedom of patrolling all areas of the county while on duty and being out in the community, helping in any way he can.
He also appreciates the support he and other officers receive from residents.
“It certainly is different than working in Marion County,” he said.
Berry admits he loves everything about his job, especially traffic stops, and is eager to learn more. He recently attended a crisis intervention school.
“We run into a lot of mental illness calls, and this school really helped teach me how to respond and how to communicate while on those calls,” he said.
When he is not working, Berry enjoys exercising.
“It’s a way to keep me in shape for the job, and it helps clear the mind,” he said.
Berry also regularly visits with his family, which includes parents Charles “Joe” and Jane Berry and younger brother, Kyle, and his friends.
Berry urges anyone who is considering a career in law enforcement to contact him. He would welcome the chance to talk one-on-one with others.
“This is a great profession,” he said. “It’s an ever-changing job ... I would recommend this profession to anyone who has a heart to do it ... Applicant numbers are low at a lot of departments, ours included, so now’s the time to chase your dream.”
