Willie Bates

Background

About Willie Bates

Lieutenant Senior Chaplain Willie Bates II who has served with MCSO since April of 1997. Chaplain Bates has had the privilege of supervising Jail Security, Wishard Hospital Detention, Lock-Up, Processing Center, the Indianapolis City-County Building, Movement Team, and the Jail Tactical C.E.R.T Team. Some of the many accomplishments of Chaplain Bates has had includes C.E.R.T Team Tactical Commander, Jail Hostage Negotiator, MCSO ILEA Instructor and Crisis Intervention Deputy. He received his Honorable Discharge from the Army National Guard in November of 2003. Chaplain Bates' most recent awards consist of Community Policing Award and Sheriff Frank J. Anderson Spirit of Diversity Award. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Master of Science Administration of Justice and Security, and is an Ordained Elder and Licensed Minister. Chaplain Bates is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. and member of NOBLE (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives). He was appointed Senior Chaplain of the MCSO by Sheriff Kerry Forestal October 2021. “Being a part of MCSO gives me a sense of peace, accomplishment, purpose and pride to serve my community and the people who live within it,” said Chaplain Bates. “Law enforcement has a major responsibility in protecting lives and property. Using diverse law enforcement officers encourages agencies to focus on cultural sensitivity training and community policing. The fact that MCSO has racially diverse Deputies can be used to mitigate racial bias in the exercising of policing powers and it works to create a force that better reflects the population in which we serve. I would like to encourage our minority community to consider a career with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.”