ABOUT COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING:
Federal legislation in the early 1990s provided funding to promote partnerships between local police departments and communities to control and prevent crime. Gary had C.O.P. offices in nine locations until federal funding stopped a few years ago. Only the C.O.P. office at 601 Lake Street is operational today as the Miller Substation of the Gary Police Department.
ABOUT THE LAKE STREET C.O.P. OFFICE:
The Lake Street C.O.P. office is manned by volunteers recruited and trained by the Public Safety Committee of the Miller Citizens Corporation with the GPD. Until 2006, two Gary police officers ran the office fulltime. In 2008, one officer is assigned to check and follow up on complaint forms but must spend most of his time on patrol outside the office. Support for the C.O.P. office is also provided by the Miller Community Fund and the Miller Business Association.
MISSION:
The C.O.P. office provides information on city services and reports on suspicious or criminal activities for the GPD from throughout the First District of the City of Gary. The office also promotes organization of Neighborhood Watch programs and other actions needed to prevent and control crime.
LOCATION AND HOURS:
The office at 601 Lake Street is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Voice mail messages left when the office is closed will be answered during regular business hours.
VOLUNTEERS:
Adult residents of the First District serve as C.O.P. volunteers who are asked to spend two hour shifts at the office weekly. A background check of prospective volunteers is made by the GPD.
Training of volunteers includes becoming familiar with Gary city services and the organization structure of the GPD. Volunteers maintain a log and fill out a complaint form for every contact by phone or office visits. Complaint forms are reviewed by GPD officers for follow-up action.
CONTACT:
Emergencies or crimes in process should be reported immediately to 911. The number for community information or to report suspicious or non-emergency activities is 938-0281.
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAMS:
Areas where neighbors come together to watch out for each other have less crime. First District Council representative Marilyn Krusas works with the C.O.P. office to promote organization of Neighborhood Watch programs throughout the Miller, Aetna and Glenn Ryan neighborhoods. Call 938-0281 to obtain the makings for hamburgers and hot dogs to hold cookouts and block parties where neighbors can get to know each other and organize their own watch groups.
CRIME PREVENTION MATERIALS:
"We Call Police" signs and decals and C.O.P. brochures are available at the C.O.P. office