Sheriff Resigns Amid Investigation Into Spending

GREENCASTLE, Ind. -- The Putnam County sheriff resigned from his post Friday amid an investigation into the inappropriate spending of department funds, his attorney said.

Mark Frisbie submitted his resignation Friday night. 6News' Jack Rinehart reported.

Last year, a state audit found that Mark Frisbie spent thousands of dollars from the department's commissary fund on personal items, including first-class tickets for his family to Florida, a limousine tour of Washington and lunch at a Hooters restaurant. Frisbie was ordered to pay back about $4,300.

Frisbie's attorney said Monday his client didn't want to involve the sheriff's department in the investigation.

"There no way that Mark could have stayed as sheriff and had drug, even inferentially, the department, the people of Putnam County, or more importantly for him, his employees and deputies into that fight," said Robert Hammerle.

Putnam County Republican officials will hold a caucus early next month to elect an interim sheriff.

For now, officials said residents shouldn't be worried about public safety.

"The residents of Putnam County, I just want them to know that there will be no interruption in service," said acting sheriff Virgil Lanning. "We're still going to be out. We're still going to be patrolling. We hope that will alleviate some of the fears that we've heard from the public about this situation."

County commissioners plan to hold an executive session and public hearing on the issue on Monday night.