The Portage Exchange Club welcomed Portage Police Chief Troy Williams to its October 17 breakfast meeting at Miller’s Assisted Living Meeting Room. Williams gave the club members an update on the police department and its activities.
Williams opened with a short autobiographical sketch. He is a life-time Portage resident. He spent six years in the Marines during the First Gulf War and has been a member of the police force for 16 years. During that time, he has been a patrolman, worked undercover, been a member of the SWAT Team, and for six years served as School Resource Officer at Portage High School. He applied for the position of chief in January 2012 and beat out eight other applicants.
He reported on several new initiatives, such as detectives taking reports, rather than having patrol officers take reports and then hand the case over to detectives. Three new officers with previous police training have been hired. Since Williams is now chief, Office Mike Candiano has taken over as School Resource Officer at the high school, and Officer Greg Coleman splits his time between the middle schools. These officers take turns working with the elementary schools.
The department has applied for and been awarded grants that have been used to purchase SWAT vests and life disks (similar to but lighter than old fashioned life preservers) and vests for all patrol cars.
“I’m a Type A personality,” Williams said. “I was always the first one through the door in a SWAT situation. But being in charge of putting other officers in harm’s way gives you a different perspective. It’s a different world out there, and we need to respond effectively in the safest way for both the public and our officers.”
The department has gotten a License Plate Reader. Once this is set up, it will allow the department to check any license plate against a national Hot List. They also have five new squad cars and two Dodge Durango SUVs. These are important for incidents that occur during bad winter weather.
Our police continue to meet with Porter County, Lake County and Chicago departments to keep on top of gang activity.
“We don’t have a huge day to day gang issue here in Portage, but we want to be proactive and monitor it,” the chief said.
“I believe Portage is a safe city. I grew up here, and I have a vested interest in the city. I’m not saying we don’t have issues. It’s a matter of enforcement and educating our citizens. For example, don’t leave your cars unlocked. Don’t leave your GPS or other technology out in view. This will cut down on crimes of ‘convenience.’ We can’t be everywhere, so we count on our residents to be our eyes and ears and keep us informed of any legal activities they are aware of."
“The Portage police department has no hidden agenda. Our motto is: Put the bad guys in jail and keep the city safe.”
Portage Exchange Club President Peggy Berbesque presented Chief Williams with a check from the club. Williams said it would be put toward their canine officer fund.