Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Officer Randy Komisarcik to retire from CPD and as CHS resource officer

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By KEVIN NEVERS

Officer Randy is retiring.

So Chesterton Police Chief Dave Cincoski announced at Thursday’s meeting of the Police Commission.

After nearly 22 years of service and dedication to the CPD, the community, and Chesterton Middle School, Sgt. Randy Komisarcik, the long-time school resource officer at Chesterton Middle School, will retire from the department effective Jan. 30.

The CPD is currently accepting applications for the position of patrol officer, Cincoski noted, and will do so through Dec. 20. Cincoski is hopeful of obtaining a short list of candidates for the commission to interview by March. In the meantime, Cincoski is asking for letters of interest from current officers wishing to succeed Komisarcik as SRO at CMS.

Re: Traffic Study

In other business, Member Tim Scheerer returned to an item from November’s meeting, when a resident of Quail Court asked the commission to consider lowering the speed limit on Sand Creek Drive North from 30 miles per hour to 20 mph. Cincoski said at the time that a traffic study would have to be performed first, but that it will have to wait until after the winter and then the scheduled re-paving of the roadway.

On Thursday, Scheerer asked Cincoski two questions: whether the CPD could increase enforcement patrols on Sand Creek Drive North? and whether the department could station a speed radar sign on the roadway.

Cincoski said that patrols have already been stepped up; but that he wants to wait for a period of definitively dry weather before posting the radar sign on Sand Creek Drive North, as motorists have a habit of sliding into the radar signs in snowy, icy conditions. “When there’s a break in the weather, we can get that out.”

Donation from Highwood

Memorial Foundation

In other business, Cincoski told the commission that, on Dec. 2, he gratefully accepted a $500 donation to the CPD Gift Fund from the Warren “Skip” Highwood Memorial Foundation.

“A public thank you to them and on behalf of the commission a thank-you card was sent.”

Firehouse 13 Historical Museum, operated by the Memorial Foundation, is currently exhibiting the late Highwood’s extensive collection of fire antiques and memorabilia, including hundreds of village firehouses, Santas, nutcrackers, and firefighter-themed ornaments.

Firehouse 13 is open to the public--free of charge--from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14-15; Wednesday, Dec. 18; and Saturday, Dec. 21. The museum is also a Toys for Tots drop location.

Firehouse 13 is located at 937N 350E in Jackson Township. Call (219) 926-1481.

Off Probation

At Cincoski’s recommendation, members voted unanimously to make Det. Nick Brown’s promotion to corporal permanent, after a successful six-month probationary period.

“Cpl. Brown has served a satisfactory probationary period with absolutely no issues,” Cincoski said. “His work has always been good in the Detective Bureau and he will make a good addition to the supervisory structure.”

Christmas Eve

Jingle Bell Run

Members also approved a parade permit for the annual Christmas Eve Jingle Bell Run, at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 24.

The run will start on Broadway in the Downtown, on a course which runs east as far as South 15th Street and then returns to Second Street.

Farewell

Outgoing Town Council Member and CPD liaison Emerson DeLaney, R-5th, took a moment on Thursday to say farewell to the commission. “This will be my last meeting,” he said. “It’s been a pleasure and an honor.”

Member Pete Duda, for his own part, expressed his gratitude to DeLaney. “Thank you for your service and dedication.”

Scheerer also bid farewell to his colleagues and Cincoski. “This will also be my last meeting,” he said. “It’s been good working with you and thank you.”

With Gratitude

Duda read into the record a note of gratitude from Mary--no last name--addressed to the officers of the CPD: “This is a note to thank you. Thank you for risking your life every day for complete strangers. Thank you for working days, nights, weekends, holidays, birthdays, and countless other special occasions to keep us safe. Thank you for continuing to do the job you were sworn to do despite all that is happening around you. You are strong. You are brave. You are heroes. You will always have my deepest appreciation, respect, and support.”

November in Review

In November the CPD responded to 616 calls (678 in October), filed 75 cases (65), issued 31 citations and 93 warnings (41 and 71), and investigated 41 accidents with 12 injuries (38 accidents with six injuries).

Calls for service in November included 84 suspicious vehicles or persons (73 in October), 16 thefts (14), 38 alarms (40), six incidents of vandalism (seven), four animal complaints (five), 171 traffic stops (170), 11 well-being checks (17), two missing persons (one), two reports of battery (three), one burglary (zero), 28 disturbances (31), and two reports of fraud (three).

CPD now accepting unwanted hypo needles

The Chesterton Police Department is now accepting unused and unwanted hypodermic needles, in the lobby of the station, 790 Broadway.

Walk into the lobby, then turn left, and look for a sharps box secured to the wall located above the prescription drop-off box.

Police Chief Dave Cincoski announced the new needle initiative at the Police Commission’s meeting last week. The sharps box was provided by the Porter County Substance Abuse Council, which will remove a container inside the box when it’s been filled and then dispose of the needles properly, Cincoski said.

The idea is to help diabetics and others to safely get rid of unwanted hypodermic needles in their homes. “We don’t want those lying around,” Cincoski said.

 

 

Posted 12/16/2019

 

 
 
 
 

 

 

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