Jasper police to add narcotics detective, restart second K-9 unit

The Jasper Police Department will add a detective focused on narcotics and street crimes next year. It also plans to bring back its K-9 unit, which has been empty since February.

The Jasper Board of Public Works and Safety approved starting an internal selection process for the detective position on Tuesday. The Common Council funded it in the 2027 budget, and the new position would be filled on Jan. 1.

The new detective will focus on narcotics and street crimes but will be cross-trained to help in other areas. The department’s current detectives are split between crimes against people and crimes against property. The chief said the department did not want a job so narrow that officers could refuse other work as outside their description.

Clerk-Treasurer Kiersten Knies said no new job description or salary ordinance change is needed.

K-9 unit returning

The chief also told the board the department will begin choosing a new K-9 handler.

K-9 Mac retired in February. The department held off on replacing him so younger officers could work with Officer Joe Chambers and K-9 Gator and see what the job takes.

“It’s not just the fun parts,” the chief said. “It’s a lot of work behind the scenes and training.”

The department will choose the handler internally, according to Chief Dick. The department has historically paid for the dog and its training through community donations, and the chief said he expects the same this time. Once the board picks a handler, that officer will help raise the money. The chief said he will return to the board before buying a dog.

September by the numbers

Officers answered 1,502 calls for service in September, according to the chief’s monthly report. They wrote 36 crash reports, gave 412 traffic warnings and issued 70 citations. They made 40 arrests. Parking enforcement wrote 48 tickets.

School resource officers logged 350 activities in the schools, including some arrests, juvenile complaints, home visits and truancy checks. They also did one K-9 sweep.

Detectives conducted 13 interviews, opened nine investigations, made three arrests and handled 10 search warrants and subpoenas.

One case took about two weeks. The chief said a juvenile reported missing from Jasper was found safe in Indianapolis. He credited the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the Marian University Police Department.

The city’s dispatch center handled 5,329 calls.

Dangerous dogs

Mayor Craig asked about a dog bite listed in the report. The victim was treated at the emergency room and received stitches.

The department and the city attorney’s office are sending letters to owners whose dogs have been declared dangerous. The letters list what the city ordinance requires and set a deadline. An officer then visits to check that steps such as warning signs are in place.

Owners must re-register those dogs every year by Jan. 31. The city has not settled how it will track that. The chief said he would like owners to bring photos and paperwork — proof of insurance, vaccines and a microchip — to the police station. City Attorney Renee Kabrick explained that the city logs initial actions in the city’s GoGov system, but checking every dog in person each January could become burdensome for officers.

The city is working on a system that would require dog owners to come in with the required information and photos proving compliance with the ordinance if their dog is declared dangerous.

Donations and grant

The board accepted two donations. The American Legion gave $1,000 for the department’s peer support team. OFS Brands gave $3,000 from the Honor Remembrance Run for general department use.

“Our community is … showing up for us,” the chief said.

The board also accepted a $21,946.46 Comprehensive Highway Injury Reduction Program (CHIRP) grant from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. The department receives the traffic grant each year. The grant covers 80% of a $27,433 project: $16,675 for personnel and overtime and $10,758 for equipment. The city pays the remaining $5,486.60 from its equipment budget.

Fleet back in service

All police vehicles are back on the road after a string of heat-related breakdowns, the chief said. A new truck for the school resource officer is expected this week. It will then be fitted with police equipment.