On February 22, 2018 Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas Carter promoted Lieutenant Donna M. Elam to the rank of captain to serve as assistant commander of the Indiana State Police Special Investigations Division. The Special Investigations Command oversees the Drug Enforcement Section and the Special Investigations Section which includes the Public Corruption, Organized Crime, Human Trafficking and Auto Theft units. Special Investigations Command personnel are assigned to an Area and within specialized sections both in the field and at General Headquarters.
Elam is a native of Greencastle and attended Greencastle High School. She graduated from DePauw University in 1988 with a BA in English.
Elam began her law enforcement career in 1993 upon graduation from the 50th Indiana State Police Academy. She was assigned to the Toll Road District and patrolled Lake and Porter Counties. In 1997 she was promoted to the Area 5 Problem Oriented Policing Team, which served the Putnamville, Pendleton and Indianapolis Districts. In 2000, Elam was promoted to Detective in the Auto Theft Unit and in 2009 she was promoted to Sergeant of the Organized Crime and Public Corruption Unit. In 2012 she was promoted to Lieutenant to serve as commander of the Area 5 Investigations until her transfer in 2013 to Special Investigations to serve as Section Commander.
Captain Elam will serve as the Assistant Division Commander for the Indiana State Police Special Investigations Division. She will supervise 110 enforcement and civilian employees throughout the State of Indiana.
