Fire Prevention Division

Chief Kempler has been serving the community for over 20 years in numerous capacities within the fire service. He began his career in Atlanta, Georgia where he served as a Firefighter/Paramedic, Engineer, and ultimately a Sergeant overseeing the Arson Investigation section. With a majority of his family living in Indiana and a strong interest in the specialized area of fire prevention, Chief Kempler made the transition to Indianapolis where he joined the Pike Township Fire Department.

Throughout his career, he has achieved numerous academic and professional credentials including an Associate of Applied Science degree with high honors in Fire Management, a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Safety and Health with a focus in Fire Science and a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration. In addition, Chief Kempler holds certifications from the International Association of Arson Investigators and the National Association of Fire Investigators as a Certified Fire Investigator (IAAI-CFI), Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (NAFI-CFEI), Certified Evidence Collection Technician (IAAI-ECT), and Certified Fire Investigation Instructor (NAFI-CFII). Chief Kempler is a Licensed Indiana and Nationally Registered Paramedic, Indiana Firefighter I &II, Instructor I&II/III, Investigator, Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Specialist, Public Fire Educator, Fire Officer I&II, and Fire Inspector I&II. He is a graduate of the North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy and currently serves as a Lieutenant in the reserve division of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Kempler is the President of the Indiana Fire Investigation Task Force.

Joshua Kreigh has been in public safety for over 20 years in numerous capacities in the fire service and as well as a police officer with various law enforcement agencies. He has a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice from Indiana University and has continued his professional education throughout his career in public safety, obtaining certifications both with the fire service and law enforcement. Josh holds certifications from the International Association of Arson Investigators, the National Association of Fire Investigators as a Certified Fire Investigator (IAAI-CFI), Certified Fire, and Explosion Investigator (NAFI-CFEI). He also holds certifications as an Indiana Firefighter I &II, Instructor I&II/III, Investigator, Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Specialist, Fire Officer I, II, III, IV, and Fire Inspector I&II. He is a graduate of the police academy in Missouri and additionally completed training to become an Indiana ILEA Tier I certified officer. He has numerous certifications as an instructor in both the fire and law enforcement fields.

Tanya Pickett has been a member of the fire service since 2014 having previously served as a Deputy Fire Marshal and Public Educator for the Indianapolis Fire Department. She possesses extensive experience in code compliance and building construction. Investigator/Inspector Pickett holds an undergraduate degree in Public Safety and attends graduate school at Purdue University. Tanya has numerous state and national fire certifications, including Fire Inspector I/II, Fire Investigator I, Public Educator I/II, Youth Firesetter Prevention Management and Intervention Specialist I/II, Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) and NIMS 100-800. In addition to her state and national certifications, Investigator/Inspector Pickett is a certified Fire Investigation Technician through the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI-FIT).  Investigator/Inspector Pickett is a graduate of the Southport Police Academy. She currently serves as the building safety specialist for the Pike Township Fire Department and helps to coordinate inspections for new businesses in the community.

Cade Berry holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire, Arson, and Explosion Investigation from Eastern Kentucky University along with a Master’s of Science in Safety, Security, and Emergency Management with a concentration in Homeland Security from Eastern Kentucky University. Cade holds the Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator certification through the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI-CFEI) of which he is a member and is a Fire Investigation Technician through the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI-FIT) where he is also a member. Cade holds several other certifications including Intro to Incident Command System (ICS-100), ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incident (ICS-200), National Incident Management System (ICS-700), and National Response Framework Introduction (ICS-800) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency along with Firefighter I and Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations. Investigator/Inspector Berry is a graduate of the Southport Police Academy. Cade is the past Secretary of the Central Indiana Fire Investigation Task Force.

Aside from Cade’s exceptional educational background and prior to joining Pike Township Fire Department, Cade gained valuable in-field knowledge and experience interning for Lexington Fire Department Fire Investigation Bureau in Lexington, Kentucky, and also served on his hometown fire department as a volunteer firefighter at Abingdon Fire Department in Abingdon, Virginia.

Adam Brandlein has been in public safety for over 20 years in numerous capacities in the fire service. He has also served as a police officer with various Indiana law enforcement agencies. DFM Brandlein has continued his professional education throughout his career in public safety, obtaining numerous certifications both in fire protection and law enforcement. DFM Brandlein is an Indiana Certified Fire Investigator I. He also holds certifications as an Indiana Firefighter I &II, Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Specialist, and a Fire Inspector I&II. He is a graduate of the Marion County Sheriff’s Academy.