Kerry Forestal

A Lifetime Dedicated to Public Safety

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Public service was a family value for Kerry Forestal, who grew up on Indianapolis’ East side. His family members have served the Indianapolis community as law enforcement officers, firefighters, and public servants for four generations. Therefore, it was no surprise, after graduating from Scecina Memorial High School, and studying Criminal Justice at Ball State University and IUPUI, that in 1977, Kerry Forestal joined the Marion County Sheriff’s Department.

During his nearly 40 years at the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, Kerry rose through the ranks of Detective in Undercover Narcotics; Sergeant in the White Collar Crime section then the Homicide and Robbery section; Lieutenant in East District Burglary and Auto Theft; and Captain, overseeing county-wide Property Crimes Investigations. In 2003, Kerry was appointed Colonel and Chief Deputy of the Marion County Sheriff’s Department by Sheriff Frank Anderson.

In 2010, Kerry Forestal was appointed by President Barack Obama, with the advice and consent of the United States Senate, to the position of United States Marshal for the Southern District of Indiana. In that role, Kerry’s responsibilities included security over four federal courthouses in Indianapolis, Evansville, New Albany and Terre Haute; coordination of warrant service and arrests by Federal Agencies; responsibility of protecting federal judges in the Southern District of Indiana; and operational direction of the United State’s execution site.

Kerry also served as the United States Marshal Service representative to the Homeland Security Committee of the International Chiefs of Police Association, the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force and the United States Attorney-led High Intensity Drug Task Force.

In 2015, Kerry Forestal returned to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, and was appointed by Sheriff John Layton to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and Executive Officer. Overseeing the Criminal Division, Kerry’s responsibilities include Investigations, the Sex Offender Registry, liaison assignments to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the FBI, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office Grand Jury Section, and the United States Marshal Service’s Regional Fugitive Task Force. Kerry also oversees the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Division, made up of individuals who donate thousands of hours annually in support of law enforcement operations.

Kerry Forestal married his high school sweetheart, Kathy (Naughton) , in 1978. They have three children, Adam, Erik, and Brittany. and seven grandchildren.