FAQ

Crash Report Numbering: Remember not to use a hyphen to separate the year and the remaining case number(s); maintaining at least four digits. This causes search issues in the system and the state has kicked them back in the past. Example, if your case number in CAD is 2023-0001  your report number in the Aries Crash System would need to look like this 20230001.

In addition, since we are approaching a new year I want to remind everyone that if you take the first few accidents of the year there should always be four (4) digits behind the year. Example: Case #20220001 would be the first accident of 2022 and so on.

Crash Scene Investigation: Always take photos of each side of all involved vehicles and objects when conducting a crash scene investigation or documentation. Photos should be taken at a 90 degree angle of the vehicle or object, and from an over scene view as well as at a closer distance of six to ten feet. It is also a good idea to take plain view photos of the interior front and back seats of involved vehicles, documenting possible reasons for contributing factors.

Crash Scene photos should be saved, at your earliest convenience; to your CHPD OFFICER FOLDER, creating a FOLDER to separate all by case number.

Evidence Collection: All ammunition (including any chambered rounds) should be safely removed from any firearm confiscated and secured for department storage. Firearm magazines loaded with ammunition can be packaged with the firearm, as long as it is removed from the firearm frame. Revolver ammunition should be packaged as a separate item. Ammunition which is subject to forensic processing, should be collected according to evidence preservation protocols.

Disposal Collection: Ammunition voluntarily turned over to the Department by a citizen; that is unwanted, in need of disposal, and NOT connected to a criminal investigation can be secured in a Department Evidence Locker. This ammunition is not packaged or logged in like evidence, however should include a communication which identifies “for disposal” and the submitting officers name.

Aries Crash Reporting Software: Lexis-Nexis has held technical intervention and configuration very close to their belt regarding their Aries Crash Reporting software (version 6). 

If you experience a problem completing or reviewing a crash report, stop (leaving the problem on your screen) and call support using the following directions for purposes of effective technical support troubleshooting.

If you need immediate assistance, please contact us at 866-495-4206 (option 2, then option 1) or by email aries.support@lexisnexisrisk.com

When securing or confiscating a bike (including mopeds); an evidence tag should be completed and attached to the bike.  The bike should be transported to inside City Garage Hut #6 for storage; with other bikes already confiscated.  The bike should also be identified and entered as property using an INCIDENT SUPPLEMENT (if not connected to a crime) or CASE REPORT (if connected to a crime).  A CHPD Property / Evidence Entry Form does not have to be completed and submitted unless the bike is considered evidence and connected to a crime case report.

When sending out an email concerning department BOLO’s, Extra Patrols, and Officer Safety; please send those emails to POST@CTOWNPD.COM so that the information also posts on the Officer Area of the Department website.

Mobile GPS Reset: Mobile GPS is the ability of your Unit location to be seen on the CAD Mobile Map (F10) and Dispatch Center CAD map; except when your status is OFF SHIFT. This is an important officer safety feature; as well as, helpful to dispatch when assisting in locating calls tactically….among other reasons.

The GPS connectivity feature disconnects automatically after eight consecutive hours of a stationary position.

However; since this is an electronic feature; there are times a unit’s GPS connectivity is interrupted.

The following steps (in the following order) can be taken to refresh your GPS connection; any one step may work, if none work notify 519 for further assistance.

-Click on the CHECK IN icon, along the top of Mobile program. Check for your unit on the map.

-Click on UTILITIES, then REGISTER in Mobile. Check for your unit on the map.

-Click the GPS icon at the top of the Mobile program; ensure your computer name is primary. Check for your unit on the map.

-Unplug the USB cable of your unit’s black GPS puck (from the bottom of your tablet dock or laptop); wait 20 seconds, and plug it back in. Check for your unit on the map.

CHARLESTOWN CITY SERVICES DURING BUSINESS HOURS (Animal Control, Streets & Sanitation): 502-297-2387 or 502-523-3650. (Wastewater: 812-256-7131)

CHARLESTOWN CITY SERVICES AFTER HOURS: Including Animal Control / Streets & Sanitation: 502-297-2387 or 502-523-3650.

CHARLESTOWN CITY SERVICES AFTER HOURS: Indiana American Water: 502-664-1675 / Wastewater: 812-256-7131.

The Charlestown Community Liaison offers services for community members facing personal or family crises. Part of the duties is establishing relationships with social service agencies and serve as a point of contact for crisis intervention duties.

The main focus of the position will be to provide support for residents in need of services related to domestic violence, suicide prevention, substance abuse treatment and recovery, general mental health, and financial support.

Contact the current Community Liaison (Courtney Rodewig) at 502-263-3502 (do not give out her cell number to the public) refer them to contact city hall or provide on of her business cards.

Email the Community Liaison at socialworker@cityofcharlestown.com.

More information at https://cityofcharlestown.com/208/Community-Liaison

The rate of decomposition of human remains can vary due to environmental factors and other factors. Environmental factors include temperature, burning, humidity, and the availability of oxygen. Other factors include body size, clothing, and the cause of death.

Initial Stage
For the first 24 to 72 hours, the body undergoes very little observable change. Liquids settle in the tissues, creating lividity, or discoloration on whichever side of the body faces downwards. Rigor mortis locks tendons and muscles in place, and enzymes begin triggering cells to die and break down. Aerobic bacteria inside the body use up the available oxygen and create an ideal environment for the proliferation of anaerobic bacteria which do not require oxygen. Insects may also begin to lay eggs in and on the corpse.

Bacterial Bloat
Once anaerobic bacteria begin to run rampant in the intestinal tract, they produce odoriferous gases that bloat the internal organs. Bloating is particularly apparent in the face. The skin also begins to darken and discolor, taking on a greenish hue, and the expanding gases may rupture the skin and organs. This allows liquids and odors to escape and grants scavengers access to the interior of the corpse. This stage occurs between four and 10 days after death.

Active Decay
During the active decay phase of decomposition, insects and maggots feed on the body, helping break it down even further. The skin blackens. Most of the liquid leaves the body, creating a pool or soaking into the earth. The odor from decay remains very strong. This stage occurs anywhere from 10 to 25 days after death.

Advanced Decay
From around 25 to 50 days after death, the maggots and other insects complete the breaking down of soft tissues, skin and hair, as well as muscles and connective tissue inside the body. Body cohesion breaks down, exposing bones to the environment and possibly allowing them to roll away and scatter. Insect activity begins to die down, as scavengers consume the last remaining nutrients.

Dry Bones
After 50 days or so, the corpse becomes a skeleton. Bones, teeth, hair and dried skin may be present, but with the breakdown of muscle and connective tissue, they may not remain in an identifiable human configuration. Over time, the bones will dry out and become brittle, but may last for centuries or even millennia if protected from the elements.

The Mummification Process
Extremely dry conditions may alter this process, desiccating tissues instead and leaving the skin dry and leathery. The ancient Egyptians encouraged this process by removing wet internal organs and treating the corpse with a salt called natron, a procedure designed to remove extra moisture from a corpse. While full mummification is extremely rare in nature, the right hot and dry conditions may partially preserve a corpse, preventing or forestalling complete disintegration.

Digital Files saved to the CHPD SHARED and ADMIN network drives are backed up nightly to prevent loss.  If the file is important, it should be saved to one of these network drives; most likely your CHPD SHARED OFFICER FOLDER.  Please do not save files to a Squadroom or Report Room desktop or make a copy of the FORMS and GUIDES network folder for another location; when forms are updated and changed, you won’t be accessing the proper and up to date version.

Citizens can now go to www.ctownpd.com/send; either using their mobile device or a desktop computer, and easily send digital photos, videos or documents associated to our investigations.

At the CHPD end, we have set up a secure Google Drive location to receive and manage digital photos or videos submitted to www.ctownpd.com/send automatically.

CHPD officers expecting case digital photos, videos or documents from citizens via www.ctownpd.com/send can access the CHPD Google Drive using the following credentials, from any internet connected computer.

CHPD Google Drive URL: www.Google.com/drive

Log in Using: online@ctownpd.com / Password: Chpd@4711!

***Importantly, the above CHPD Google Drive access credentials are strictly confidential to CHPD personnel only and will be considered a breach of department security to provide to anyone else. Regardless, any access to the CHPD Google Drive is trackable and traceable via IP and MAC addressing.

In the event of situations of which an aerial real time perspective would be helpful; contact Dispatch to request Drone Support Response from Clark County Emergency Management. Click here for more resources.

Group Email Addresses: Sending an email to the following email addresses will automatically send the same email to the following groups:

All CHPD Members => CHPD@ctownpd.com

All CHPD Full Time Officers => FullTime@ctownpd.com

All CHPD Reserve Officers => Reserves@ctownpd.com

CHPD BOLO’s, X-Patrols, & Officer Safety => POST@CTOWNPD.COM

CHPD Reports to Prosecutor Case Intake => REPORTS@ctownpd.com

CHPD Crime Tips => CrimeTips@ctownpd.com

Online Requests to CHPD => OnLine@ctownpd.com

All CC911 Employees => Employees@clarkcounty911.com

All CCSO Personnel => 93@clarkcount911.com

All Jeffersonville PD Personnel => Officers@Jeffersonvillepdin.gov

All Clarksville PD Personnel => cpdinfo@clarksvillepolice.com

All Sellersburg PD Personnel => spdofficers@sellersburg-in.gov .

Accessing Department Email: You can log into your email account on any computer with internet connectivity, always remember to LOG OUT when completed, especially on a public computer.

The home page of the department website (www.ctownpd.com) contains a link in the lower right corner labeled “Email Log In”, to make it easy to access your email log in page at http://webmail.ctownpd.com. Log in using your first name initial and full last name in front of @ctownpd.com; and your initial password P@ssword1

Email address example: jsmith@ctownpd.com.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO CHANGE YOUR INITIAL PASSWORD:
Once you have accessed your new email box via http://webmail.ctownpd.com, click on “settings” along the left side menu.

On the SETTINGS menu, click on “PASSWORD” then “CHANGE PASSWORD”. This is where you should change your new email box password as soon as possible for security reasons, replacing the use of the initial password of P@ssword1. Your password should include the following specifications:

Your email password must be 6 to 30 alphanumeric characters in length; with NO SPACES and special characters. Your password must contain at least one lower case letter, one upper case letter, one number and cannot be the same as or contain your last name.

Utilize the following instructions for the storage of cellular phones when the phone is believed to contain evidence relevant to an investigation and you cannot obtain the passcode from the cell phone’s owner.

Place the phone into airplane mode (If you’re not familiar with how to do this please refer to the following links);

Apple: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/sueZc1dPWxM

Android: https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/how-to-turn-on-airplane-mode/

Once you’ve placed the phone into airplane mode complete the evidence bag label and place the device into the bag with the charging port facing the opening, but do not seal the bag or envelope.

A hallway wall shelf has been affixed outside of the Evidence Lab door (on camera) equipped with a charging bank and power cords. Place the phone on the appropriate charging cable while in the bag and place it on the hallway wall shelf adjacent to the Evidence Lab door with the Evidence Property Sheet indicating Shelf E (Evidence Shelf) for the location.

If the connected case is time sensitive, send an email to the Evidence Property Officer indicating that you have placed an evidence phone on the Evidence Shelf for purposes of expedited transfer to the Property Room.

Motor Vehicles to be processed for evidence that are associated with a CHPD Case/Investigation; including but not limited to recovered stolen vehicles, should be handled in the following manner:

#1 The motor vehicle should be towed (in a manner that preserves any potential physical evidence) to inside City Garage Hut #6 for storage; by the next wrecker agency on CHPD rotation. The motor vehicle should be wrapped in POLICE LINE TAPE for security purposes. The wrecker agency should be informed to bill the tow to CHPD, referenced by the corresponding CHPD Case Number.

#2 The motor vehicle should also be identified and entered as property using a CASE REPORT or CASE SUPPLEMENT (if not connected to a case already submitted). 

#3 A CHPD Property / Evidence Entry Form should be completed (including make, model, and VIN) and submitted to the Evidence Processing Room door mailbox; unless keys were recovered with the vehicle. If the recovered motor vehicle’s keys are also recovered, they should handled with gloves at all times, used to lock the recovered motor vehicle within the CHPD Hut, secured in a paper evidence envelope or bag as a separate evidence item, and locked in a Locker B evidence locker with the associated CHPD Property / Evidence Entry Form of both the vehicle and keys.

Note: Motor Vehicles impounded to the City Garage CHPD Hut for evidence processing, will be released to the vehicle’s owner (Case Victim) by CHPD CID personnel when processing is completed. This will prevent victims from being held responsible for tow and storage fees.

Note: Motor Vehicles recovered by CHPD, but reported stolen in any other jurisdiction; should be impounded according to directions attached to the NCIC entry. Recovered stolen vehicles from other agencies that do not have NCIC entry recovery directions/requests; should be impounded by and to the next CHPD rotation wrecker agency. Such vehicles are not logged in as department evidence.

The following procedure must be adhered to by Charlestown Police Department personnel when receiving a request for release of property logged in as evidence (safekeeping or otherwise) with the Charlestown Police Department.

Individuals requesting release of confiscated property or evidence; must be the owner of said property, be ordered its release by a Clark County, Indiana judge, or have legal guardianship or power of attorney over the property owner.  Contraband of Indiana law can not be released and will be destroyed according to department policy.

Individuals requesting the release of ANY property confiscated by the Charlestown Police Department; and secured within Department Evidence custody MUST:

First – Compose a written request for release of the property, identifying the property as clearly as possible (make, model and serial number if possible), the date when or under what department case number it was confiscated; as well as, return contact information (name, address and phone number).

Secondly – The composed written request should then be forwarded to the attention of the Department Evidence Property Manager via email to cledbetter@ctownpd.com, faxed (812-256-7128), mailed or hand delivered to 703 Main Street, Charlestown, IN 47111.

For additional information, please refer to: http://www.ctownpd.com/release

CHPD Fax Numbers:

CHPD Operations Fax (Squad Room): 812-256-7300

CHPD Administration Fax (Admin Nook): 812-256-7128.

Refusal to Identify Refresher Training Printable Guide CLICK HERE TO VIEW, DOWNLOAD AND PRINT. False Identifying Information/Name Game Refresher Training Printable Guide CLICK HERE TO VIEW, DOWNLOAD AND PRINT.

CHPD has designated a storage bin (black with yellow lid), marked Lost and Found, located in the Department Mail Room. This Lost and Found bin is designed for lost items turned into the department, which are of little or no physical value. Lost items of significant value (^ $50+) should be logged in to the Evidence Property Locker B, using an Incident Report entry.

Download, view and print the CHPD Radio Programming Template (PDF) for the Indiana State Network (800-900 MHtz / High Band) Radios, by CLICKING HERE.

The following guidelines should be practiced by all radio users to facilitate Clark County LE Communication efficiency.

1-      Please do not use the SERVICE channel for general questions regarding a call you are dispatched on; as the SERVICE channel dispatcher is normally busy triaging NCIC/IDACS activity for all agencies and all other active calls, and most likely will not readily have the information being requested.  Such general questions should be requested on the MAIN DISPATCH channel or via CAD Chat.

2-      When a call has been assigned to a channel (either via Signal 100 or an assigned Ops channel); ALL radio traffic for that call, INCLUDING NCIC/IDACS radio traffic, should be conducted on that assigned channel INSTEAD OF LEAVING THE ASSIGNED CHANNEL, such as SERVICE to run something or someone.  Note that an assigned channel (either Signal 100 or an assigned Ops channel) also assigns a dedicated dispatcher to the entire call; and it is a officer safety issue on such calls to have officers moving channels.

3-      While on a call, if ISP is assisting and decides to take an arrest or take the call over, NCIC/IDACS hit confirmations (if relevant) need to be handled between the ISP officer and their dispatch center, and not CC911.  If CC911 is performing NCIC/IDACS hit confirmations for other agency actions, it causes NCIC/IDACS security policy and procedure issues; as well as action redundancy and documentation confusion.

4- Use CAD whenever safe and practical…..Dispatchers CAD system seeing what you update in MOBILE. EXAMPLE: Use Self Dispatch in CAD to go Enroute, instead/in addition to the radio whenever safely and tactically possible; Use CAD instead of the radio to go On Scene; When clearing from a call; use CAD instead of the radio; During emergency calls, traditional use of the radio (instead of CAD, as directed above) is acceptable. Tactical and emergency response is more important than CAD protocols when warranted. However, when CAD can be used safely and tactically; especially on Medium and Low Priority calls; we are all more efficient.

5- When using the radio to call in a Traffic Stop; use the following method: PLATE, STATE, & LOCATION (Vehicle Color, Make, and Model are optional) Example: “Radio-D19 Traffic Stop” (wait for response), “WILLIAM-BAKER-DAVID-321 – INDIANA – 900 BLOCK OF MARKET STREET”

6- When giving a DATE OF BIRTH over the radio, provide it in the following order: YEAR-MONTH-DAY Example: “1969-12-18”

An Radio Portable Operational training video is available at http://www.ctownpd.com/refresh.

Purchasing items online has become a normal part of everyday life, just as child custody exchanges have become more and more prevalent. Meeting in a neutral and safe location to perform custody exchanges or purchase transactions, especially with someone unknown, can sometimes become heated, tricky and perilous. For these reasons, law enforcement all across the country are setting up Safe Exchange Zones, where online transactions and child custody exchanges can occur under video surveillance to provide greater safety and documentation for all parties involved.

The City of Charlestown and Charlestown Police Department recognizes the value of the above outlined reasons, and have created a Safe Exchange Zone in the east parking lot of police headquarters, located at 703 Main Street, in Charlestown. Two parking spaces have been marked and posted reserved for the purpose of safe exchange; available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week without reservation. The Charlestown Safe Exchange Zone parking spaces, have good lighting at night, plenty of space, and most importantly, high definition video surveillance; everyday around the clock. These Safe Exchange Zone parking spaces are provided free of charge; on a first-come, first-use basis, and with the ability to request a copy of video footage of any transaction use.

It is important to remember, as posted at these parking spaces, that the Charlestown Police Department Safe Exchange Zone is not manned by department personnel; so, in the event a transaction becomes perilous, a 911 phone call should be made to summons police for assistance.  Transaction video footage copies can be requested via email, noting the appropriate date and time of the transaction, to online@ctownpd.com.

CHPD School Resource Officer Information Sheet, information should be generally considered CONFIDENTIAL. CLICK HERE TO VIEW, DOWNLOAD AND PRINT).

Public Disposal: The Clark county Health Dept. maintains a public syringe disposal box in the east parking lot of CHPD headquarters (the red dropbox at the parking spaces reserved for the Safe Exchange Zone).

Each Department patrol unit should maintain a portable bio-hazard sharps container for safe syringe disposal. Once full, portable sharps containers should be turned into the CHPD Evidence Property Officer for replacement. If locked in the Locker B evidence lockers, please ensure your unit number is marked on the container; or replacement will be delayed.

Evidence Collection: “Syringe” is the proper term to describe a hypodermic needle with a plunger system. The lab will not process items equipped with a needle (including a syringe), collect as evidence (using a sharps evidence tube) only if its contents need to be flushed and submitted to the lab for identification by CHPD CID. Otherwise, simply photograph and dispose of the syringe properly; for a charge such as Possession of a Syringe or Paraphernalia.

The following list is updated periodically and not real time. Please review revision date.

Unit #	Assigned	Description	Marked / Unmarked		Unit #	Assigned	Description	Marked / Unmarked
4036	558	2020  Black Ford Responder F150	Unmarked		8469	Line #2	2018 Blue Ford Interceptor SUV	Unmarked
3375	572	2020 Black Ford Interceptor SUV K9	Marked		3959	546	2018 Black Chevy Silverado Pickup	Unmarked
3373	564	2020 Black Ford Interceptor SUV	Marked		3041	560	2017 Silver Ford Interceptor SUV	Marked
3370	570	2020 Black Ford Interceptor SUV	Marked		4061	529	2017 Dark Grey Ford Interceptor SUV	Unmarked
3376	566	2020 Black Ford Interceptor SUV	Marked		0241	Line #1	2016 Grey Dodge Charger	Marked
3372	532	2020 Black Ford Interceptor SUV	Marked		2596	549	2014 Grey Dodge Charger	Marked
3371	574	2020 Black Ford Interceptor SUV	Marked		2597		2014 Grey Dodge Charger	Marked
3374	576	2020 Black Ford Interceptor SUV	Marked		7518	545	2014 Grey Dodge Charger	Marked
5499	556	2019 Dark Gray Chevy Tahoe SUV	Unmarked		5729	Line #3	2013 Black Dodge Charger	Unmarked
2154	544	2018 Gray Ford Interceptor Sedan	Unmarked		5728	Line #4	2013 Dk Grey Dodge Charger	Unmarked
8466	554	2018 Silver Ford Interceptor SUV	Marked		6060	519	2013 Dark Grey Chevy Tahoe 4×4 SUV	Unmarked
8467	552	2018 Silver Ford Interceptor SUV	Marked
8468	548	2018 Silver Ford Interceptor SUV	Marked		1688	Line	2019 Blue Honda Pioneer 700 UTV	Marked

Use the following link to view and download the: Arrest Warrant Training Refresher

Password: Chpd@4711!

CHPD Authorized Rotation Wrecker Services:

Powell’s Towing, 304 S. IN 62, New Washington, IN 47126 (812) 293-4224.

Furnish Towing & Recovery, 101 S. Ferguson St., Henryville, IN 47126 (812) 294-1191.