Department Activates New Incident Support Unit:
The Special Operations Division of the Charlestown Police Department recently added a very valuable piece of equipment to its fleet, the Incident Support Unit.
(pictured to the left)
For more information on the Incident Support Unit, CLICK HERE.
Two Sergeants Tie for 2005 Officer of Year Honors:
Sgt. Darren Baker and Sgt. Dana
Coleman were honored as Charlestown Police Department co-Officers of the Year at
the annual Charlestown VFW Police, Fire and EMS Appreciation Banquet on the
evening of November 19th, 2005. Sgt. Baker was recognized after leading
the Department as its new Training Division Commander since October of
2004. Sgt. Coleman was recognized for hard work in organizing the
Department's first Special Response Team. Congratulations to both Officers
on receiving the honor of Officer of the Year and thank you for your dedication
and hard work for the Department.
Full Time Force Grows to 16 Officers:
In an effort to increase man-power
to fight the on-going drug problem and to supplement the force after it's
jurisdictional responsibility doubled after 2003 annexations, the Charlestown
Police Department hired its 16th Full Time Officer position. Joseph Jones,
who had served on the Department as a Reserve Officer during the past five years, finished first in the fall application process and was sworn in by Mayor
Mike Hall on November 14, 2005. Jones is a college graduate, has started his Field Training
Program and will attend the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 2006.
Congratulations, welcome to the full-time force and good luck to Officer Jones!
Full Time Force Grows to 15 Officers:
After
funding was approved by the City Council, and just days before the beginning of
providing law enforcement services to the second phase of 2003 Annexations, the
Mayor administered the oath of office to the Department's 14th and 15th full
time police patrolman, Adam Clark and John Meacham. Mayor Mike Hall swore
both new officers in the presence of the entire full time force which is a very
welcome event after recent city growth has put a strain on the Department and
it's operations. In addition, the Department, Mayor and Council are
working on plans for the hiring of two more positions, bringing the Department
force to 17 full time officers before mid-2005. Both Clark and Meacham
were members of the Reserve Department before being hired full time.
(Not pictured at the right is Officer Tim Wolff, who is currently attending the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy - photo by C.E. Branham)
Jeff Stoner named Chief of Police by new administration:
Newly elected mayor, Michael Hall,
has announced his new administration's transition team, which includes the
promotion of 18 year department veteran Jeff Stoner from Captain to Chief of
Police. Stoner began his career with the Charlestown Police Department are
a reserve officer before being hired and later promoted to Sergeant in
1991. Stoner served as Sergeant until 2002 when he was promoted to
Captain. Stoner has been active in the department, including being an
academy instructor, grants coordinator, and department liaison for the
Governor's Council on Dangerous and Impaired Driving. Stoner is a
life-long resident of Charlestown and began his tenure as Chief of Police at
midnight on January 1, 2004.
Annexation expected to change department:
Plans are underway by department officials in preparation of a planned January 1, 2004 expansion of law enforcement services by the Charlestown Police Department to newly annexed areas of the City of Charlestown. The first phase of annexation, which legally became effective February of this year, includes the area west of downtown and bordered by SR 62, Stacy Road and High Jackson Road. The first phase includes an addition of approximately 417 residences within 4.29 square miles. The second phase of annexation, which is scheduled to legally become official in May of this year, includes the ease west of central Charlestown and bordered by High Jackson Road, Stacy Road and SR 403 (including Highview and Lakeview Subdivisions). The second phase includes an addition of approximately 600 residences within 3.63 square miles. Annexations, planned and expected, plus the addition of the Charlestown Township (City Limits) area of the former Indiana Army Ammunition Plant will more than triple the size of the department's jurisdiction. Currently, efforts at making the planned expansion of services deadline as smooth as possible include mapping and address listing. On July 12, 2004, the Charlestown City Council approved the appropriation of money to hire two new full time officers to begin September 1, 2004. The Charlestown Police Department took law enforcement responsibility of the first phase of the annexation, commonly known at the Bethany and Stacy Road annexation, on February 1, 2004. The second phase of annexation will become the law enforcement responsibility of the Charlestown Police Department on September 1, 2004.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW A RELATED MAP OF THE ANNEXATION AREAS.
New Phone System Implemented:
The Charlestown Police Department recently upgraded it's telephone system creating more efficiency. Not only can citizens of Charlestown email department police officials 24 hours a day, they can now leave voice messages 24 hours a day, and/or reach the proper department employee responsible for their area of interest. The Charlestown Police Department receives in-coming telephone calls on two (2) types of telephone systems, one non-emergency and the other emergency.
If your telephone call to the Charlestown Police Department is of a NON-EMERGENCY nature, please call the same number as always (812) 256-6345. The non-emergency line provides an automated greeting which is designed to direct your call to the proper division or employee's extension within the department or make contact with an on-duty communications officer.
If your telephone call to the Charlestown Police Department is of an EMERGENCY nature, ALWAYS DIAL 911. Clark County Indiana is serviced by one of the most up-to-date 911 systems, and is designed especially for receiving emergency telephone calls as well as coordinating all County Police, Fire and EMS services.
POLICE & FIRE join to raise Relief Money for NY & DC
Members
of both the Charlestown Police and Charlestown Fire Departments joined together
Saturday, September 16th to man donation roadblocks in Charlestown.
Citizens and visitors of Charlestown overwhelming responded by contributing
over $10,000 (9 hours) for the WHAS
Crusade Relief Fund. Thanks to all who donated! If you would
like to donate to the NY & DC Relief Fund, in representation of
Charlestown, stop in at Charlestown Fire or Police Station, or call us at (812)
256-6345. God Bless the USA and all those experiencing loses as a result
of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington D.C.. (click
on photos above to enlarge)
POLICE WIN vs. FIRE in Charity Softball Game
Several
members of both the Charlestown Police Department and Charlestown Fire
Department got together to compete in a friendly game of softball to benefit Charlestown's
Shop with a Cop program and the WHAS
Crusade for Children. The game was held at the Charlestown Little
League Park on Thursday evening, August 30th. The officiated game began
with an eight run burst by the "FIRE" team to start the first inning.
The "POLICE" team responded and tied the game at 15 during the bottom
of the 4th inning. The "POLICE" team prevailed 26-16
after confusing the "FIRE" team with a series of acrobatic and
graceful moves that kept more than just the crowd rolling and stumbling to the
ground. All had fun and additional monies were raised for worthy causes.
Rumor has it that the "POLICE" want to extend a football and
basketball challenge to the "FIRE" team. This could get
interesting, we'll keep you posted. (click
on photos above to enlarge)
Charlestown Awarded Federal Funds for 3 New Police Officers
January 23, 2001, Charlestown City Hall: 9th District Congressman Baron Hill delivered notice that the City of Charlestown will receive $150,000 in funding to hire two new police officers. The grant funding is being made available under the Universal Hiring Program (UHP) of the US Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. COPS grants provide 75% funding of the total salary and benefits of each officer hired for three years. To date the COPS program has provided funding to more that 12,000 law enforcement agencies to add more than 110,000 officers to the nation's streets.
Additional: February 9, 2001, the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Policing Services (COPS), announces that the Charlestown Police Department has been awarded a three year grant to fund ($125,000.00) one police officer in the COPS in Schools Program. The program is designed to enable the assignment of police officers to work in and around primary and secondary schools within the department's jurisdiction.
Copyright 2001 © Charlestown Police Department, All Rights Reserved.