We have some really gifted officers and support personnel on the Portage Police Department. People who truly do treat those they encounter in the same manner that they would want one of their family members treated if found in the same situation. Every year the department selects that one person who they think best represented the department, that one person who reminds us as to what being a police officer is all about. In 2009 they selected Officer Bill Smith as our Officer of the Year and I am proud to announce that Bill was further recently recognized by the American Legion . They presented him with their "Citation of Exemplary Service", an award he competed for with other quality officers in this portion of the state (District 2). I commend Bill for his good work, he makes us all look good, he is a dedicated officer and we are proud that he is a member of the Portage Police Department. 
In today's Post Tribune you will find this photograph of Bill and his K 9 partner FAX. The article dealt with Bill's assistance to the Gary Police Department that led to the recovery of a large amount of KHAT, a controlled stimulant that is most commonly used in Africa and the Middle East. Well, it seems that a large amount of it made it's way up here and thanks to the Gary Police Department, Officer Smith and FAX, it is now in evidence. The recovery was valued to be worth at least $109,000
Great Job!
New Scams
1. The other evening a friend of mine received a call from someone representing themselves as a police officer, who told him that his son had been in an accident on the interstate. He was not injured, but he was being arrested as he did not have his drivers license in his possession. The caller stated that his son was allowed one free telephone call, but had misdialed and now he would have to pay for a second call. The officer then requested my friend's credit card information so that his son could call him. The Officer knew the name of my friends son, his date of birth and the type of vehicle he drove.
One thing led to another and my friend grabbed $100 cash for bond and then found himself enroute to what he thought was a police department where he was going to bond his son out of jail. He found himself in a rather shady part of town and as he neared the address, his wife called him to tell him that his son had just returned home from the movies. Perhaps he was only moments away from being robbed.
The so called police officer was calling from 3 different telephone numbers, all starting with 1-815-933-xxxx. I am not passing along the exact numbers, the address my friend was sent to nor the name of agency that the officer represented himself as being involved with as this information has been turned over to those agencies. I do not want to detract from any investigation that may be underway, I just wanted to let you know that this is a new one and it is here in Lake and Porter County.
2. Yesterday we took a call from a frantic lady who had just been called by someone who told her that her son had been injured in an automobile accident. The caller told her that she could be directly connected to a person who could provide more information by hitting #72 and then a 773 area code number. She did as we would likely all do when confronted with such a call. There was no accident and when she hit the #72 with the number provided, she now forwarded all of her incoming calls to that number. I am not clear as to whether this was done just as an inconvenience to her or if the caller was able to use this for financial gain. Regardless, she lost control of all incoming calls and we could not call her back to tell her that.
3. This one was sent to me by a local business person who is a subscriber to the "Chief's Email". They have a business that offers gift certificates, as I am sure many of our local businesses do as well. What they have found is that someone got a hold of a valid certificate and then made very credible copies of the certificate. It is believed that the subjects of this matter waited for a time when the store was very busy and would not have taken the time to verify the authenticity of the certificate. They now have initiated the use of a personalized stamp to mark each certificate so as to reduce the chance of being taken in the future
There is always someone there who wants to take what is yours. As always, if it does not seem right, it likely is not right. If in doubt call us and let us check it out, that is what we get paid for.
Contact Us!
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Routine Business - (219) 762-3122
STOP Team - (219) 764-5676
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