“Northwest Indiana law-enforcement officials serve on the front lines of keeping our communities safe and secure,” said Visclosky. “The funds will help law enforcement agencies and protect the people of Northwest Indiana through crime-fighting programs such as a shot-spotter technology, a joint fingerprinting system, and a wireless communications system.”

Several Law Enforcement Programs Come from Visclosky’s Good Government Initiative

Included in the legislation is funding for several law enforcement programs that were identified in Visclosky’s Good Government Initiative, which is an effort to maximize government operations while saving taxpayer dollars.

Specifically, the Lake County Sheriff will receive $600,000 for two major and much needed technological upgrades. A majority of the funds will be for the Wireless Network Project, which will serve as the fundamental vehicle by which the Lake County Sheriff Department, Fire Department, EMA and EMS will establish an interoperable communication system, which was a regional recommendation of the Good Government Initiative. The funds will be used for the purchase of data sharing software and interoperable wireless communications devices. 

The remainder of the $600,000 will be used to purchase digital photography equipment and software for the Lake County Sheriff’s Crime Lab, which was also a recommendation of the Good Government Initiative.  According to the initiative, the current photography equipment in the lab is over 20 years old and current processing of photos is inefficient.

Another law-enforcement tool that will receive funding, and is part of the Good Government Initiative is the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), which will receive $300,000. In an effort to increase the safety of Northern Lake County Indiana, six police departments; Hammond, Gary, East Chicago, Whiting, Highland and Hobart, have agreed to create an integrated booking system that electronically captures, prints and transmits fingerprints and data.  The implementation of this system will allow these departments to share their resources and to more efficiently identify and arrest criminals.  The funds provided will be used to purchase and install the equipment in the six departments.

The Gary Police Department will receive $480,000 to complete Phase IV of the Shot Spotter Gunfire Detection System by purchasing additional sensors.  The Gary Police Department will use the system to deal with gun-related crime, including a significant number that are directly related to drug trafficking and gang activity.

Also included in the legislation is $100,000 for the “No Workshops No Jumpshots” Program. This program, which is based in Gary and is part of the Department of Justice’s Juvenile Justice Program, provides programming activities for youth between the ages of 13-18 years old.  The goal of the “No Workshops No Jumpshots” program is to provide a positive, structured environment in which the participants work to improve academic achievement, social skills and emotional maturity.

In the Science portion of the legislation, Congressman Visclosky was able to secure $720,000 for Valparaiso University to help purchase a dual-polarization detection Doppler weather radar system.  This advanced radar system will be a valuable teaching tool for the University’s Meteorology department, and will allow the university to provide up to the minute weather information to entities in Northwest Indiana and the surrounding areas. 

Visclosky’s Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program Receives $30 Million Authorization

Also included in this appropriations bill is $30 million for the Bullet Proof Vest Partnership Program, which Congressman Visclosky authored in 1997. The program works with local law enforcement agencies throughout the country to provide funding for the purchase of bulletproof vests.  The purpose of the program is to save the lives of law enforcement officers engaged in local crime-fighting activities.

            “The Bulletproof Vest Program provides assistance to the brave men and women who protect our neighborhoods,” said Visclosky. “The continued funding of this program will make it easier for local law enforcement agencies to purchase bulletproof vests.”