Winamac’s new town marshal is planning some new initiatives and new equipment for the police department. In an update to the town council earlier this month, Tyler Campbell said one new program is the Super Citizen Award to recognize local kids who go above and beyond.
“Maybe they picked up a piece of trash or maybe they stood up for somebody else or maybe they’ve done something that just really makes them stand out,” Campbell explained. “They’re going to get a Super Citizen Award from one of the police officers.” Recipients will then be able to turn in their certificate for a free scoop of ice cream.
But Campbell is also looking at ways to help improve oversight. He said he wants to get new body cameras that would be much easier for officers to use, especially when it comes to getting the videos off of the cameras and into the computer system. “I do think that this program is something that we definitely need to look at hard-core to bring ourselves up to snuff with not only officer safety, citizen safety, but evidence storage,” he told council members. That’s expected to cost the town $21,000 over the next five years.
Campbell also wants to make sure officers know how to de-escalate situations without lethal force. He said newly-hired officer Ryan Austin will soon learn how to train other officers in the use of things like pepper spray and beanbag rounds. “But it gives us tools in the future to possibly be able to deescalate other situations or come up with less lethal answers that may have required an increased risk to officers or the citizens themselves,” Campbell explained.
Meanwhile, plans are in the works for a DUI checkpoint this summer and a more effective way of enforcing the town’s ordinances. Campbell also reported that Phil Foerg has joined the department as a part-time officer but could be moved up to full-time in the fall.
