City of North Vernon Police Department

09/05/2026

🇺🇸 Labor Day Office Closure

The North Vernon Police Department office will be closed Monday, September 7th in observance of Labor Day.

We’ll be back to our normal business hours on Tuesday, September 8th.

Our officers will still be out patrolling and responding to calls as usual.

📞 For non-emergency police matters, call (812) 346-4911.

🚨 For emergencies or situations requiring immediate assistance, call 911.

Have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend from all of us at the North Vernon Police Department!

09/01/2026

**Drug Arrest Leads to Location of Homemade Explosive**

On August 31st, at approximately 2:00pm, Officers with the North Vernon Police Department encountered and spoke with a male suspected of operating a vehicle with a suspended driver's license. During the encounter, officers detected the odor of ma*****na coming from the vehicle.

The male was asked to exit the vehicle, and officers conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle. The initial search revealed ma*****na, and the male was placed under arrest. During the subsequent investigation, officers located methamphetamine next to the male where he had attempted to conceal it.

A further search of the vehicle revealed a homemade explosive device. Officers immediately secured the area and closed nearby roadways as a precaution to ensure the safety of the public.

The Indiana State Police and Columbus Police Department Bomb Squad responded to the scene. Bomb squad personnel safely disposed of the device and rendered the area safe.

David Axsom of Columbus, Indiana was arrested and booked into the Jennings County Jail on the following preliminary charges:

Prohibited Possession of a Handgun (A-Mis)
Possession of Ma*****na (A-Mis)
Possession of Methamphetamine (L6 Felony)
Possession of a Destructive Device (L6 Felony)
Trafficking into a Penal Facility (L5 Felony)

Officers applied for and were granted a search warrant for David Axsom’s residence in Columbus, Indiana. The North Vernon Police Department, in partnership with the Columbus Police Department, executed the warrant. During the search, officers located materials used in the manufacture of explosives, along with methamphetamine, ma*****na, and multiple items of drug paraphernalia.

The search warrant resulted in three additional arrests by the Columbus Police Department.

All charges are preliminary and suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The North Vernon Police Department would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the Indiana State Police, Columbus Police Department, Jennings County Sheriff's Office, North Vernon Fire Department, and North Vernon Police Department Reserve Officers who responded and assisted.

We are grateful for the quick response and cooperation of all agencies involved in keeping our community safe.

08/31/2026

🚨 UPDATE 🚨

State Road 7 at the U.S. 50 intersection is now back open, and the area is safe.

We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation while law enforcement worked to address the situation.

08/31/2026

🚧 Traffic Alert 🚧

State Road 7 at the U.S. 50 intersection is currently closed due to an active law enforcement presence in the area of Casey's.

Motorists are asked to avoid the area and use an alternate route until further notice. Officers are on scene managing the situation, and traffic delays are expected.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation. Updates will be provided when appropriate.

08/24/2026

North Vernon Vet to Vet is hosting the following seminars to bring awareness, information, and resources on veteran mental health. Free for all to attend. For more information on this and other veteran resources, reach out to North Vernon Vet to Vet.

North Vernon Vet-to-Vet invites veterans, family members, first responders, businesses, veteran organizations, community organizations, caregivers, and the general public to join us on Friday, September 18, 2026 for two FREE educational seminars.

📍 Jennings County
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Jennings County Public Library
2375 IN-3, North Vernon, IN 47265

📍 Jackson County
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Seymour Public Library
303 W. Second Street, Seymour, IN 47274

This is an important part of the education mission of North Vernon Vet-to-Vet. PTSD and su***de prevention affect more than the veteran alone—they affect families, workplaces, first responders, organizations, and entire communities.

Come learn how to recognize warning signs, understand PTSD, respond when someone may be struggling, and connect people with the resources and support they need.

Education can lead to understanding. Understanding can lead to action. And action can save a life.

Please share and help us reach someone who may need this information.

🇺🇸 North Vernon Vet-to-Vet
Each One, Reach One, Teach One
Leaving No Veteran Behind

08/18/2026

The North Vernon Police Department would like to extend a sincere thank you to Walmart for a generous donation of two televisions for our training room!

We'd also like to thank Furniture and Things for their generous donation of a conference table for our new conference room!

These donations are a tremendous help as we continue settling into our new building, improving our department's facilities and training capabilities.

We truly appreciate the support of our local businesses and their continued investment in the North Vernon Police Department and our community. Thank you for supporting your local officers!

08/14/2026

Records Office will be closing at 4pm today, Friday 8/14/26

08/08/2026

🚨 PROPERTY LOCATED – SEEKING OWNER 🚨

Last night, North Vernon Police Department officers were involved in a trespassing incident at a local vacant building.

As officers responded to the area, the trespassers fled, leaving behind two items of personal property. Officers collected the property and are holding it for safekeeping while we work to get it back to the rightful owner(s).

If you believe the property may belong to you, please contact the North Vernon Police Department. You’ll need to provide identifying details about the property so we can verify ownership.

You may also contact us through our non-emergency line at 812-346-4911 or send us a private message through this page.

If you know someone who may have misplaced or lost property matching this description, please share this post and help us get it back where it belongs.

08/02/2026

Congratulations to Officer Chris Allen!

This week, Officer Chris Allen successfully completed an Instructor Development Course, adding another valuable skillset to his commitment to professional development and the continued growth of the North Vernon Police Department.

Training qualified instructors within our agency helps ensure our officers receive high-quality, consistent training while strengthening the future of our department. Congratulations, Chris, on this accomplishment and thank you for your dedication to serving both our officers and our community.

Chief Keith Messer shared his thoughts on the achievement:

"Investing in our younger leaders is one of the best investments we can make as a department. Officer Allen has consistently demonstrated a willingness to learn, lead, and serve others. Developing instructors from within our agency strengthens our future and ensures the next generation of officers receives quality training. I'm proud of Chris and look forward to seeing the positive impact he'll continue to have on our department."

Congratulations again, Officer Allen—we're proud to have you on the team! 👏🚔

07/17/2026

Today, officers with the North Vernon Police Department and Jennings County Sheriff's Office deputies made a stop to visit a local young entrepreneur and grab some ice-cold lemonade. With the summer heat in full swing, the drinks were exactly what our officers needed to stay refreshed while out serving the community.

A big thank you for the delicious lemonade, the friendly smiles, and the reminder that some of the best parts of this job happen during moments like these. We love seeing young people showing initiative and bringing our community together.