INDIANAPOLIS — The Center Township constable position is vacant after after Denise Hatch pleaded guilty to official misconduct and gun charges connected to multiple cases.
As a result of that plea deal, Indiana law dictates she be removed from office automatically.
The Marion County Democratic Party has to form a caucus to appoint a replacement for Hatch within 30 days.
Denise Hatch has seen her share of charges while acting as the Center Township constable. In February, she was charged with official misconduct after allegedly stealing broccoli from a grocery store while wearing her badge. That same month, she was slapped with additional charges, including attempted assisting a criminal and attempted resisting law enforcement. She was placed under arrest.
Then in May of 2024, she was arrested again for unlawful carrying of handgun after bringing her gun while working security in her constable uniform. Hatch had a pending felony case at the time.
"I mean, we cannot have happen in Center Township happen. I mean, clearly it undermines the court process, it undermines law enforcement. I mean, we just can't have that type of thing happen," said State Sen. Aaron Freeman (R-District 32).
Freeman says while Hatch's behavior was unacceptable, she doesn't represent the constables serving throughout the area. He says their position is crucial to the small claims court.
"The issue that we have is there are just so many cases in small claims court that the Marion County sheriff just can't possibly handle that number of cases right now. We'd have to have a lot more law enforcement officers in that office and a much bigger budget," said Freeman.
As for moving forward so we don't see this happen again, Freeman says that's a conversation that needs to be had.
We did speak with Hatch's lawyer earlier today and he says the plea deal was a great resolution and that allows her to move on with her life.