A look at an ongoing story I’ve been covering since Dec. 2020; Wabash Township Trustee Jennifer Teising. Teising, in an abridged synopsis. In Dec., the J&C published a story exposing the trustee for living outside the township, which is required by Indiana law. Since she returned to the township in March, she has been fighting with the township board, firefighters and local media. Now, Teising faces 21 felony theft charges for receiving her township trustee paycheck between June 2020 and June 2021 while allegedly not residing inside Wabash Township, which is required by Indiana law. During her tenure, she hired two new paid firefighters, then fired them at the end of June, along with the third paid firefighter, leaving the township to only volunteers. She claimed the township could not financially support the paid firefighters because she failed to create a revenue stream for the firefighters.
Wabash Township Trustee Jennifer Teising talks with the Journal & Courier before she was to host a meeting on the future of the Wabash Township Volunteer Fire Department, Tuesday, March 9, 2021 in West Lafayette.
Volunteers with the Wabash Township Fire Department wash Tanker 8, Wednesday, June 30, 2021 in West Lafayette.
Angel Valentin, Wabash Township Board president reacts while talking with Trustee Jennifer Teising during a meeting of the Wabash Township board, Tuesday, June 15, 2021 in Wabash Township.
A sign reading “Where is Trustee Teising?” sits outside Wabash Township Fire Station No. 1, Tuesday, June 22, 2021 in Wabash Township.
Jennifer Teising, Wabash Trustee, walks out of Tippecanoe County Magistrate Court after an initial hearing, Friday. May 27, 2021 in Lafayette. A grand jury indited Teising on 20 counts of felony theft on May 12 for allegedly receiving her salary while not living in the township, as required by law.
Firefighter Travis Merkel is interviewed by a TV station before a township board meeting.
Wabash Township Firefighter Travis Merkel, left, speaks, during a meeting of the Wabash Township board, Tuesday, June 29, 2021 in West Lafayette.
Mike Dwyer, Wabash Township Fire Association President, holds his head after speaking before the Wabash Township board, Tuesday, June 29, 2021 in West Lafayette.
Deputy Chief Jim Lewis watches as trustee Jennifer Teising speaks to members of the media after a meeting of the Wabash Township board, Tuesday, July 27, 2021 in West Lafayette.
