The Munster Times reports today:
Andy Fisher, a spokesman for U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar, also said the 61-year-old [Joseph] Van Bokkelen is likely to remain Northern Indiana's top law enforcement officer. "The expectation is that all our appointees will continue on into President George Bush's second term.Posted by Marcia Oddi at November 7, 2004 10:47 AMHis office has won the conviction and detention of hundreds of criminals and the distinction of being one of the most aggressive in the country in the prosecution of gun violations.
However, the highest job expectations he faced when he began three years ago were in the area of public corruption.
In that time, he has presided over the conviction of 16 elected officials, public figures and politically connected businessmen. Another 13 are either on trial or awaiting trial on a variety of charges of public fraud or its cover-up.
Van Bokkelen recently promised a "perfect storm" of still more indictments, which have turned Fridays -- the day grand juries usually issue corruption charges -- a painful experience for local officials.
Had Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. John Kerry won election, Van Bokkelen would have had to resign by year's end and have been replaced by a Democratic appointment. President Bush's re-election Tuesday is likely to dispel any illusions that Van Bokkelen's Operation Restore Public Integrity would be retired.