Starke County Prosecutor Nicholas Bourff recently purchased new interviewing equipment for the North Judson Police Department.
The recording equipment was purchased with Pretrial Diversion funds which are used at the discretion of the prosecutor to help local law enforcement.
North Judson Town Marshal Doug Vessely said the equipment was desperately needed and everything is running smoothly.
The North Judson Police Department responded to 3,899 calls in 2012.
Town Marshal Doug Vessely reported year-end statistics that showed 850 citizen assist and house check calls, 717 traffic stops, 27 battery reports, 12 Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated reports, 7 burglary/robbery reports, 69 thefts/conversion reports, 15 alcohol/drug reports and 22 mischief/vandalism reports.
North Judson Officers made 107 adult arrests, wrote 136 ordinance violation tickets and issued 467 traffic warnings in 2012.
North Judson is continuing its efforts to become compliant with regulations from the Americans with Disabilities Act. Town Marshal and ADA Coordinator Doug Vessely said he has been looking at city-owned buildings and has identified a few that are in need of additional handicapped parking spots and sidewalk ramps.
Vessely explained that he is currently drafting the ADA compliance plan which he will then put into writing and submit to the state with a timeline and financial information, such as how to pay for the changes laid out over a two to three year period. Fortunately, the town shouldn’t have too many buildings that need modified as Vessely said many of them are already up to ADA code.
North Judson Town Marshal Doug Vessely was recently appointed as the town’s coordinator for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry explained that the town must now review their municipal buildings and sidewalks to ensure they are ADA-compliant, because if they aren’t, the town will be unable to receive federal grants.
Henry explained that the town will be required to draft a plan to become compliant with ADA requirements, and then they will have to implement that plan as soon as possible. The deadline for a plan to be developed and submitted is Dec. 31, and any municipality that does not have their ADA plan implemented soon thereafter will be disqualified from receiving federal funds. As ADA coordinator, Vessely will work closely with Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann to ensure they meet the requirements.
Horstmann is also staying busy, having scheduled a water tower inspection for both towers this month. Both the tower on the west side of North Judson and the tower downtown will be inspected Sept. 19.
The North Judson Police Department recently investigated another scam going around the area.
Police say a resident on Lincoln Avenue received what appeared to be a legitimate check in the mail for around $3,800 from a nationally-known insurance company. The person was asked to deposit the check and wire $1,900 back to the company to receive the remainder of the money. This is a scam. If you deposit the check and wire the money, the check will bounce and your money will already be claimed by the scammer.
North Judson Town Marshal Doug Vessely told the Town Board this week that he is asking residents to call the Police Department and notify them if they will be going out of town so officers can perform routine patrols around that property.
You may call 772-5914 and tell Vessely about your vacation and he and the other officers will check your residence to make sure no crimes have been committed. If there happens to be a break-in or other type of criminal activity at your house, he will notify you and an investigation will take place.
North Judson Town Marshal, Doug Vessely, presented the North Judson Town Board with a Use and Mandatory Wear Policy, regarding the use of body armor.
The policy outlines the need for officers to wear protective vests during their time on duty and in times of high-risk and/or tactical situations. Tactical situations may include search warrant executions, drug raids, initial crime scene response and serving felony warrants. All officers working in police-related secondary positions must also wear protective vests.
The North Judson Police Department received theft calls on Friday. The callers reported a laptop and a wallet stolen from their vehicles.
North Judson Town Marshal, Doug Vessley, would like to remind you to make sure you keep doors locked on homes and vehicles. Vessely added that keeping the doors locked helps to deter crime and keeps your valuables safe. Criminals are always checking for unlocked cars to try and find cash and other valuables.
Two people have been arrested in connection with burglaries at two downtown businesses in North Judson.
North Judson Town Marshal Doug Vessely said that 16 cases of beer and several bottles of liquor were taken from Grand Central Station and a set of Wilson golf clubs and a bag were taken from Rosa’s Resale Shop. After an investigation, officers recovered the stolen property from a residence in the 300 block of Main Street.
The North Judson Town Board took a good look at what the paving schedule would be in the near future and the members decided that chip and seal work may work more in their favor than the cost of paving.
In other news:
Officers from the North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department are looking at quotes for a new rescue truck and Town Marshal, Doug Vessely, told the Board that he is gathering quotes for five new police vests.
The North Judson Police Department has been receiving complaints of residents driving golf carts in town and not abiding by the traffic laws. Town Marshal, Doug Vessely, wants to remind you that the operation of golf carts within town limits is against the law. Anyone who is found driving a golf cart will be given an ordinance ticket. Officers will uphold state law that prohibits golf carts.
