Northwest Indiana Discussion

Good Morning



Summer is coming,.... I think it is anyway, the weather certainly does not seem to confirm that. Still, our children are or will soon be out of school and they are out on the streets, walking, skate boarding, bicycling and all the rest. The last thing they are doing is looking for you and me driving our cars down the road. Think back when you were a kid, did you really check for cars? Lets make sure we do what we can to have a safe and enjoyable summer.



We continue to work on our unsolved murder, which took the life of Jeremiah Higgins on May 15th. Our detectives are doing what they can, but as time passes it makes it a bit of a challenge. Please, if you know or think you know of anything that might assist us, do not hesitate to call. Call us and allow us to decide if it is important. You may call the department at 762-3122; contact our STOP Team at 764-5676, contact WE TIP at 1-800-78-Crime or text us anonymously by texting 847411 then enter PPDTIP so that the message heads our way- then of course type in the message. It is all anonymous.



We are receiving reports of some thefts in the Austin Hills Subdivision. I understand that we have a few reports and then there were some thefts that were not reported. Please, contact us when people take your things or do other dumb things, it is the only way we can learn of potential problems and then formulate plans and strategies to catch them and stop the problem.



Gangs are always a concern to any community and like it or not, Portage is geographically located close to citys that many gangs call home. I spent my final 11 years with the FBI working almost exclusively on gang matters and I really enjoy catching these guys and putting them in jail. If you find signs that they visited your neck of the woods, call the Portage Police or your respective department and give us a chance to head them off at the pass.



One of the first things gang members like to do is to announce their presence by "tagging" their territory. That is they spray paint logos and such on the back of traffic signs, buildings, underpass walls and the like. It is very helpful if you contact law enforcement when you see these " taggings". It helps us track these gangs and by removing the graffiti on a timely basis, it usually discourages further tagging. Please, call us or email me when you see graffiti and we will promptly deal with it.



Our Citizen's Academy is underway and I understand that it is going very well. This is our second year and we had a good many apply for participation. Unfortunately we could only accommodate a certain number, there is always next year for those who missed out this time around. So far there have been presentations dealing with the departments storied history, our dispatchers and the tremendous challenge and work they do day in and day out, crime scene/evidence technician duties and many other interesting topics. Assistant Chief Larry Jolley has just done a magnificent job again this year in putting together a truly interesting program and I thank him and our presenters for their time and effort.



Portage Police Reserves serve a valuable service to the citizen's of our community, they do so without a salary and we all owe them a great deal of gratitude for what they do each and every day. At the present time we are looking to expand their ranks. If you are interested in joining the Portage Reserves feel free to email me with any questions you may have or you may stop by the station and pick up an application. The process includes a background investigation, interviews and of course basic law enforcement training, to include training with a firearm. It is very rewarding work and like most public safety positions, it is a thankless job. There is however that sense of great accomplishment and contribution that all rightfully experience. Interested?



I close with a link to the US Marshal's sales site and a "feel good" story from a 90 year old author that appeared in The Plain Dealer- see below



Thank you, enjoy the day,be safe and always remember, if it does not feel right, it probably isn't



Mark J. Becker

Chief of Police

Portage Police Department

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Do you ever receive those messages about Government Auctions or US Marshals sales? I am not sure if the ones sent to me are legit, but this one comes directly to me from the US Marshals Service so I thought I would pass it on. It is interesting to see what they have seized and what they are now offering to sell to you and me. Their link is included below. An interesting article from The Plain Dealer follows the US Marshal information




U.S. Marshals Service Asset Forfeiture Sales: June 10, 2009
Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:18:45 -0500

Seized/Forfeited Vehicle Auctions:

Location: Apple Towing Co., 7601 San Pedro NE, Albuquerque, NM
Preview Day: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Auction Day: Thursday, June 11, 2009 10:00 AM Sharp
Please contact Apple Towing Co. at (505) 823-9696 for more information on this auction.

Location: Apple Towing Co., 9529 8th St., Rancho Cucamonga CA 91730
Preview Day: June 17th 8:00AM-5:00PM / June 18th 8:00AM-10:00AM
Auction Day: June18th 10:00 AM SHARP
For more information call (281) 723-1020 or visit www.appletowing.com/aindex.htm

Commercial Woodworking Equipment & Electronics Auction:

Date of Sale: June 13, 2009 10:00 a.m.
Place of Sale: 1900 North Street Muskogee, OK
For more information please contact Bartholet Auction Services at (91... or visit the website www.bartholetauction.com/default.htm

Bid4Assets Auctions:

College Park, GA - 1.1121 +/- Acres of Vacant Land
Auction Dates: June 15 - June 17, 2009

2003 Cadillac Escalade V8
Auction Dates: June 15 - June 17, 2009

Las Vegas, NV - 2831 Judson Avenue
Auction Dates: June 23 - June 25, 2009

East Cleveland, OH - 24 Unit Apartment Complex
Auction Dates: June 23 - June 25, 2009

Cincinnati, OH - Commercial Property
Auction Dates: June 22, - 24, 2009

Cattaraugus, NY - Light Industrial Warehouse
Auction Dates: June 22, - 24, 2009

Cattaraugus, NY - Industrial Warehouse - 26-30 Mill Street
Auction Dates: June 22, - 24, 2009

Homestead, PA - Commercial Property
Auction Dates: June 23, - 25, 2009

Front Royal, VA - 1.19 Acres of Vacant Land
Auction Dates: June 29, - July 1, 2009

Port St. Joe, FL - 8.51 +/- Acres of Waterfront Vacant Land
Auction Dates: June 29, - July 1, 2009

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Feel Good Story of the Day!!!





This in from a subscriber to the Chief's Email- ( Thank you Sheilla)



Wouldn't life be simpler -----

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio .

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me... It

is the most-requested column I've ever written."

"My odometer rolled over to 90 last August, so here is the column once more:"

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents

will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone.. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is

all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never

blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood... But the second one is up to

you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an

answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save

it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this

matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34.. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or

didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab

ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."





BE SAFE!!!

I had heard there was some graffiti in the pedestrian underpass on U.S. 6 near Camelot Lanes.

Is that gang-related or just some kids?