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Washington, D.C. – Congressman Pete Visclosky today announced that he has secured $3.75 million for Northwest Indiana’s law enforcement officers to support them in keeping Northwest Indiana safe from crime and drugs and that his nationwide Bulletproof Vest Partnership will receive $25 million. Of the local funding, $3 million will go to the Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) for operations; $475,000 will go to the Schererville, St. John, and Dyer Police Departments for law enforcement equipment; $225,000 will go to the Griffith Police Department for law enforcement equipment; and $50,000 will go to the Hebron Police Department for law enforcement equipment.
“I am dedicated to helping our law enforcement officers acquire the tools they need to keep our communities safe from crime and drugs,” said Visclosky. “These funds to support law enforcement activities will help make communities safer and improve the quality of life throughout Northwest Indiana.”
The funding is included in the Fiscal Year 2009 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill and the Fiscal Year 2009 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. Both bills are expected to be approved by the House Appropriations Committee tomorrow and must be approved by both the House and Senate before they can be signed into law by the President.
$3 Million for Lake County HIDTA
The $3 million for the Lake County HIDTA will be used to continue the HIDTA’s drug control programs and are included in the Fiscal Year 2009 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. Visclosky helped create the Lake County HIDTA in 1996 to aid Northwest Indiana in overcoming a wave of drug and gang crime. He has helped it secure over $36 million for anti-drug and anti-gang efforts since then. The HIDTA, which is administrated by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, has made over 3,200 arrests and seized drugs and firearms worth a combined street value of over $245 million.
“The HIDTA is one of the great crime fighting resources that we have in Northwest Indiana,” said Visclosky. “Since its creation it has taken a vast amount of drugs and weapons off our streets, put thousands of criminals in jail, and disrupted dangerous drug trafficking organizations. I will continue to provide funding for the HIDTA to chase drugs and gangs off our streets, out of our neighborhoods, and out of existence as long as the people of Lake County need its help.”
“The funding for the Lake County HIDTA will ensure that it continues to fulfill its commitment to the citizens of Lake County in their fight against drugs,” said Thomas Gancarz, Chairman of the Lake County HIDTA. “It will allow the Lake County HIDTA to continue to provide a benefit to all Lake County law enforcement agencies.”
$750,000 for Five Local Police Departments
The $750,000 for local police departments is included in the Fiscal Year 2009 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill and will be used to purchase technological improvements that help keep communities safe.
“From communications technologies to in-car video cameras to mobile data terminals, the officers who are policing our streets should be equipped with the best law enforcement tools around,” said Visclosky.
The $475,000 for Schererville, St. John, and Dyer will be used to purchase end-user and infrastructure equipment and related software, which will enhance the communication and data interoperability between the departments. The new equipment will allow the departments to meet their goals of utilizing information technology and enhancing communications to better meet the needs of the tri-town community.
“In these challenging economic times with limited local funding, Congressman Visclosky being able to secure these funds for us is incredibly helpful in fighting crime in the tri-town area,” said David Dowling, Schererville Police Chief. “Especially on the technology side, as far as communications and mobile data terminals go, it will be very helpful for the officers to be able to access information like public data concerning criminal activity that will help with on-scene investigations.”
The $225,000 for Griffith will be used for upgrades to the dispatch center, the purchase of new digital in-car camera systems for patrol cars, and the purchase of graffiti removal equipment.
“I would like to thank Congressman Visclosky for his continued support of Griffith and the law enforcement community, which has been invaluable,” said Ron Kottka, Griffith Police Chief. “This funding will help us upgrade our communication center and our in-car video system. The upgrades will bring the Griffith Police department into the 21st Century and help my officers protect the citizens of Griffith during routine and emergency situations.”
The $50,000 for Hebron will be used for the purchase of new digital in-car camera systems for patrol cars.
“The cameras that we will install in our cars with this funding will help us safeguard both our citizens and our police officers,” said Steven Sibbrell, Hebron Police Chief. “I am very appreciative of the Congressman’s support, which helps us keep the citizens safe.”
$25 Million for Visclosky’s Nationwide Bulletproof Vest Partnership
The Fiscal Year 2009 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill contains $25 million for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership, which Visclosky created in 1998 after he learned that gang members in Northwest Indiana wore bulletproof vests, but police officers did not have the resources to purchase the life-saving equipment. The Partnership funds up to 50 percent of the cost of bulletproof vests purchased or replaced by law enforcement agencies. Since 1999, the Bulletproof Vest Partnership has invested over $234 million in helping over 818,000 law enforcement officers purchase bulletproof vests. In Northwest Indiana, it has provided over $524,000 toward the purchase or replacement of over 2,800 bulletproof vests.
“Police officers risk their lives every day to keep us safe and by helping them buy bulletproof vests we can help them stay alive when they come in the line of fire,” said Visclosky. “The Bulletproof Vest Partnership has saved many officers’ lives and I am proud to have created it and to continue to fight for its funding.”
On May 13, Visclosky introduced H.R. 6045, the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 2008, which would reauthorize the Partnership through Fiscal Year 2012, extending the life of the grant program by three years. The legislation has garnered widespread support in the House of Representatives and must be passed in order to continue the Partnership beyond fiscal year 2009. |
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