Brent Eaton

Brent Eaton credits his teachers in the Greenfield-Central schools for helping him develop the push and drive to think differently and always do his best. From his early years at Weston Elementary School through graduation from Greenfield-Central High School in the class of 1993, Brent found many opportunities to see and learn things from a different vantage point. His love of learning from those foundational years carried over into his studies at Wabash College, followed by his degree from Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis in 2000.

Brent fondly remembers the great learning environment Principal Steve Burt fostered at Weston through teachers like Nancy Thomas, Diane Walker, Marge Targett, Donna Schuster and Marciann McClarnon Miller. They were instrumental in creating an atmosphere that nurtured a love of learning and quest for knowledge. He was pushed to excel through programs like Future Problem Solvers and STRETCH. Says Brent, “My experiences captured my imagination and sparked great interest in learning. My teachers didn’t allow sloughing off and helped build a foundation for me that created the desire to ‘do more’.”

Other teachers built on that foundation. Brent’s 6th grade teacher Ann Hiott went the extra mile – asking the school superintendent to his presentation because he wrote a paper from a different perspective. Being part of the journalism team for the high school newspaper was another area where he tried something different than the norm. G-CHS journalism teacher Brenda Eaton encouraged his efforts when as the paper’s sportswriter he ventured to interview high profile Indiana sports figures like Indiana football coach Bill Mallory, Purdue’s Gene Keady and the Pacers’ Reggie Miller. Those experiences taught an important lesson. Approaching a task or circumstance with innovative thinking and doing it well often results in positive results.

Additionally, the encouragement of swim coaches Kathy Dowling and Buddy Busby, exposure to college-like expectations from teacher Craig Potter, and going above and beyond to help – such as Mary Parido did when Brent struggled with college German – have all created strong feelings of gratefulness in Brent. Approaching life and work with a unique perspective led him to pursue a career in law because Brent wanted to find ways to make things better. He often asks himself, “Does it have to be this way?” “How could this work better?” From his early work in Marion County and Hancock County prosecuting offices, through his own law practice, and now as the Hancock County Prosecutor, Brent has been increasingly able to impact that desire. Says Brent, “My current position allows me to be a part of unique opportunities that can change outcomes positively.”

As the lead law enforcement officer in Hancock County, Brent dove into finding ways to improve programs and establish new ones. A big focus has been in drug-related issues, domestic violence, and victim assistance. Brent served on the Hancock County Drug Court team – screening candidates for the Hancock County Drug Court Program and handling all Court hearings for the program for the State of Indiana. He also worked to create partnerships, and subsequently contracts, with local recovery residences. This resulted in providing well-established and credentialed recovery residences for defendants with substantial substance abuse issues. Hancock County was able to provide defendants recovery bed housing as they transitioned out of incarceration and into probation. This became a model program and has been duplicated both in Indiana and elsewhere.

Brent worked with Hancock Regional Hospital and local law enforcement to create a protocol for overdose cases – creating a means to intervene when an overdose occurs and to prevent the “revolving door.” This program has been replicated in other states. His work has enabled him to partner with others to create a jail navigation system to connect offenders with substance abuse and mental health resources. He has assisted in Department. He has also been honored for outstanding work by Hancock County’s Neighborhoods Against Substance Abuse (NASA) and for his work with crime victims by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), both in 2016.

Brent also pursues his passion to find ways to make things better through community service as a founding board member and former Vice-President of Zoey’s Place Child Advocacy Center. Zoey’s Place has assisted with interviews of more than 150 potentially abused and neglected children. He is currently on the board of The Landing Place, a recovery program for local teens and their families in Greenfield, serving as President. He also serves on the board of Love In the Name of Christ, Hancock County. Brent and his wife Susan have 4 children, 2 dogs, and 2 cats.

Thank you, Brent, for your consistent and unending willingness to find ways to make life better for others!