With school safety top-of-mind after the Connecticut school shooting tragedy, school resource officers were in the spotlight at a free legal seminar in Indianapolis. Juvenile justice, human trafficking and online crimes against children were also part of discussion at Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller's third annual Criminal and Civil Justice Summit attended by some 245 people.
More from the Indiana Attorney General's office: With school safety under a spotlight nationwide since the Newtown, Connecticut, tragedy, the first session of Thursday'’s Criminal and Civil Justice Summit focused on school resource officer (SRO) programs where specially trained law enforcement officers are stationed at schools to protect students and teachers.  One of this morning’s speakers was Mo Canady, executive director of the National School Resource Officer Association (NASRO), who addressed the role of police in school safety policies.  The approaches taken in Indiana schools were discussed by Carmel police officer D.J. Schoeff who is SRO for Carmel Middle School, and Fort Wayne police officer Chris Crapser who is SRO in the Fort Wayne Community Schools.
Last fall, prior to the Newtown tragedy, the Attorney General’s Office conducted a needs assessment study where Indiana educators and law enforcement indicated they would like to make more school resource officers available in their schools but funding is an obstacle.Zoeller reiterated his support for a bill now moving through the Legislature, Senate Bill 1, that would define school resource officers in law and provide state matching grants to help schools create or expand SRO positions through local control and decision-making.  He invited the three SRO experts to speak at today’s summit, whose theme was “Keeping Hoosier Children From Harm.”
“The increase in the dangers that are present to our children require the State of Indiana to do more to meet our obligations to the most vulnerable in our society. This justice summit brings together the three branches of state government, local school administrators, members of law enforcement and others who serve and protect the children of our state to find ways to work together collaboratively in a common effort,” Zoeller said.
As the lawyer for state government, Zoeller has organized two previous Criminal and Civil Justice Summits, or free legal seminars, to facilitate discussion among attorneys, judges, prosecutors, legislators, policymakers and the public on subjects facing the judicial system.  Past summit topics included the impact of the mortgage foreclosure crisis on homeowners, and disparities between counties in seeking the death penalty due to costs that resulted in fairness concerns.
Other session topics and speakers in Thursday'’s Criminal and Civil Justice Summit include:
Juvenile Detention Reform.  Under the leadership of Judge Marilyn Moores of Marion Superior Court Juvenile Division, Marion County became a site for the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation.  Judge Moores led efforts to enact system-wide reforms to reduce the number of juvenile detainees while maintaining public safety.  Judge Moores today led a panel discussion on approaches to juvenile detention reform.
 
Child Victims of Human Trafficking.  Indiana’s anti-human-trafficking task force, IPATH, and the Attorney General’s Office have worked to raise awareness about children becoming victims of human trafficking and prostitution due to criminals who support the commercial sex industry.  Because of concerns about human trafficking associated with large sporting events, Indiana in 2012 passed a new trafficking law prior to Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis.  At today’s summit, attendees heard from Deputy Attorney General Abigail Kuzma, chief counsel of the Consumer Protection Division, and Marion County Deputy Prosecutor Mary Hutchison, who handles human trafficking investigations and prosecutions.
Investigating and Prosecuting Internet Sex Offenders.  Law enforcement has found that sex offenders who prey upon children typically use the Internet to lure their victims.  The Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, or ICAC, is a local, state and federal partnership that works to combat online predators.  Steven DeBrota, Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, discussed his work prosecuting such cases.
Thursday’s four summit topics were among the list of priorities Attorney General Zoeller announced in 2012 as part of his second-term agenda.
The school resource officer legislation, Senate Bill 1, recommended by the Attorney General and authored by State Senator Pete Miller, R-Avon, passed 43-7 in the full Indiana Senate on Feb. 25 and has advanced to the Indiana House.  If passed into law, SB 1 would do the following:
·         Update the statute to legally define school resource officers as being law enforcement officers who have at least 40 additional hours of certified SRO training.  Such officers could be employed directly by schools or work for law enforcement agencies and be assigned to schools under an agreement.
·         Create a Secured School Fund from which schools could apply for two-year matching grants of up to $50,000 each, to use to 1) employ a school resource officer, 2) conduct a threat assessment of school buildings, or 3) purchase equipment and technology to restrict access to school property or expedite notification of first responders.
·         Set up a five-member board that includes the Attorney General that would review grant applications and award funding to qualifying proposals.
The Indiana General Assembly is considering Senate Bill 1 even as the White House recently announced a proposal for a $150 million federal grant program to fund 1,000 resource officers and school counselors nationwide in the aftermath of the Newtown tragedy.  Zoeller said the Attorney General’s Office will closely monitor whatever federal grant program might emerge, and he will work closely with the Department of Education, the Legislature and other state agencies to make schools aware of any federal funding opportunities that could complement state grants.
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Read more: School Resource Officers in the Spotlight

Fire officials in Valparaiso say they don't know if they'll ever be able to determine what caused a blaze that destroyed a century-old building in downtown Valparaiso Monday – because they had to demolish what was left of it for safety reasons – but they say it's starting to look like it might have started in the basement, according to the Times today. What was left of the structure had to be brought down to prevent those exterior walls from collapsing onto nearby buildings or the street.
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/valpo-fire-might-have-started-in-basement/article_7fba7ba6-d86b-5eaf-a779-52693c2a8085.html
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Read more: Valpo Fire Origin Possibly Basement

Almost 200-thousand Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans., from 2004 through 2007, are being recalled in 20 states, including Indiana. Ford reported today that rust issues can cause the third-row seats to come loose. The auto maker says there have not been any crashes or injuries associated with the problem, and that those who own these vehicles will get a letter in the mail, officially notifying them of the recall later this month.
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Read more: Almost 200,000 Minivans in U.S. Being Recalled by Ford

A 34 year old man who was found guilty last year to leaving the scene of an accident that later resulted in the death of a Crown Point native was sentenced to 19 years in prison Thursday. The Times reports Delaney Jarvis drove his vehicle through the right lane to make a right-turn, causing a motorcycle driven by the Crown Point native to hit another vehicle, and that the man died three-days later. Published reports say Jarvis was driving on a suspended license when the incident occurred, in June of 2011, in south suburban Olympia Fields, Illinois.
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Read more: Man gets 19 Yrs for Crash that Killed a Crown Point Native

Attention animal lovers, a community service group for kids is conducting a fundraiser to raise some much-needed money for the Porter County Animal Shelter. 9 year old Giana Gavaller says she came up with the idea of the “Hounds About Town” program due to her love of dogs, and thought it be a great thing for the members of Kids Power to take part in.
The fundraiser works like this: Porter County businesses can purchase a 31-inch dog statue for 200-dollars by March 15^th, and the statues will be delivered by April 15^th. The business then decorates them, and puts them on display in a prominent place in or outside their business. The public has the entire month of May to view the decorated dogs, get a code listed on the statue, and vote for their favorite, which enters them into a drawing for a cash prize.
Giana says the goal is to raise ten-thousand dollars for a furnace and washer and dryer at the animal shelter. For information on how to get a dog statue, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (219) 242-7026.  You can also visit them online at Facebook or on their website, http://kidspowerportercounty.org
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Read more: Hounds About Town Fundraiser for Porter Co Shelter

A lawsuit was filed today by an Indianapolis attorney accusing the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles of overcharging state residents. According to the article in the Indianapolis Star, Attorney Irwin B. Levin asked the Marion Superior Court to give the suit “class-action status”, so the alleged overcharges can be returned to those who paid for a driver's license over the last six-years.
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Read more: Lawsuit Accuses Indiana BMV of Overcharging Residents

First District Congressman Peter Visclosky and New Jersey Congressman Frank LoBiondo have introduced a four year reauthorization of the Bulletproof Vest Partnership program. Created in 1999 by the two lawmakers, the program provides funds to state, local and tribal law enforcement officers to buy protective gear. The last reauthorization in 2008 expired in October 2012.
More info: WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressmen Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) and Peter Visclosky (IN-01) have introduced a four year reauthorization of the Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) program. Created in 1999 by the two lawmakers, the bipartisan BVP program provides state, local and tribal law enforcement officers with needed protection by aiding the purchase of protective equipment. The last reauthorization in 2008 expired in October 2012.
“The men and women in our local law enforcement play an essential role in safeguarding our communities and protecting the freedoms all of us enjoy. Bulletproof vests and body armor have saved thousands of law enforcement officers. However, they cannot protect the lives of those who do not have access to them,” said LoBiondo. “As protectors of our lives and our property, it is imperative that we give law enforcement the critical tools they need so they may do their jobs and carry out their duties safely and effectively. The Bulletproof Vest Partnership program is one of those critical tools.”
"Our families have entrusted the men and women of state and local law enforcement with the responsibility of protecting their lives, their homes, and their property. We must ensure that each and every officer has access to the equipment, training, and support they need as they place their lives on the line for us. Bulletproof vests are crucial, lifesaving tools, and the Bulletproof Vest Partnership program helps local law enforcement agencies acquire them. I am proud to support the Bulletproof Vest Partnership program," said Visclosky.
Since 1999, over 13,000 jurisdictions across the country have participated in the BVP program with nearly $300 million in federal funds committed to support the purchase of more than 1 million vests. Additional information on the BVP program can be found at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bvpbasi
The lawmakers’ bipartisan bill, “The Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 2013” (H.R. 988), was introduced on the House floor yesterday.
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Read more: Bulletproof Vest Pgm Reauthorization Introduced

The U-S Attorney's Office in Hammond says a 44-year-old Gary man is facing additional bank robbery counts. Officials say Stacy Davis, who was charged earlier with robbing banks in Merrillville in Munster, has now been charged with the October 2^nd, 2012, bank robbery of TCF Bank in Munster, and the robbery of Chase Bank in Merrillville October 3rd, 2009. The charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation GRIT Task Force.
News Release:  Stacy Davis, 44, of Gary, Indiana, was charged in a superseding Indictment adding two additional bank robbery counts to the original indictment; the bank robbery of TCF Bank in Munster, Indiana on October 2, 2012 and the robbery of Chase Bank in Merrillville, Indiana on October 3, 2009.    These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation GRIT Task Force.  This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang-Adiga.
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Read more: Additional Bank Robbery Charges Filed

We have an update on a story we ran earlier about a bride-to-be in Alaska who didn't know her wedding dress was among the items destroyed by fire that consumed a commercial building in downtown Valparaiso earlier this week. Anita's Alterations was in that building for 22 years, and owner Anita Hall tells us their customer contact information and the back ups were all lost -- and they've trying to reach everyone, including that bride-to-be who's thousands of miles away. Today Hall tells us they have located her "through your radio station. The message that you put out yesterday, there were people that heard," Hall said, and said that sounded like somebody they knew and "they made their phone calls and they got through to her for us."  Hall says she's asking all her customers to call her regular business number to get in touch with her -- 219-477-5307.   She also says they are planning to be opening again.
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Read more: Update: Burned Business Finds Bride in Alaska

In Schererville, officials have approved financing incentives for the eagerly-awaited Shops on Main. Construction could begin this Spring on the project at US 41 and Main Street which is expected to include high-end retail and restaurants, though details on what shops might be moving in have not yet been disclosed.
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Read more: Another Step for Schererville's Shops on Main