From the moment Johnson County was founded, public safety has been one of its keystones.

After the Indiana legislature approved the petition to form the county, Gov. William Hendricks appointed John Smiley to be the county’s first sheriff and instructed him to hold county elections on March 8, 1823.

The sheriff’s office, police, firefighters and paramedics have had a profound impact, not only on the safety of the community, but of its history as well.

The Johnson County Museum of History honors that service and its impact on the community with its new exhibition, “Behind the Badge: Johnson County’s First Responders.” Working with fire and police departments, sheriff’s office and paramedics around the county, organizers have assembled mementos, equipment, historical snapshots and more to

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