Five Chesterton Police officers were promoted on Thursday in a ceremony at this month’s meeting of the Police Commission.

Joe Christian was promoted to his lieutenancy and will assume command of the Patrol Division.

Dave Virijevich and Anthony Alfaro were both promoted to their sergeantcy.

And Nick Christian and Fernando Dominguez were promoted to their corporalcy, to join Cpls. Joe Kantowski and Det. Jamie Copollo, promoted in February.

All promotions will take effect April 15. On April 27, Police Chief Dave Cincoski told the Chesterton Tribune after the meeting, Lt. Dave Lohse will leave his position as commander of the Patrol Division and assume command of Support Services, with the retirement of Capt. George Nelson.

Cincoski warmly praised all those promoted and spoke of their “dedication, experience, and effort.” He added that few law enforcement officers actually achieve rank in a police department.

“The bar is high,” Cincoski told the promotees. “Serve the community and this department to the best of your ability.”

In other business, Cincoski issued plaques to three officers marking landmarks in their service to the CPD: Officer Larry Powell for 15 years of service; and Cpl. Joe Kantowski, Officer Erik Herbert, and Communications Clerk Chris Baros for five years.

Meanwhile, members voted 3-0 to grant recently hired Probationary Officer Aaron Miersma take-home use of his squad car but only to and from work.

Cincoski made the request after noting that an officer, after completing his field training and having successfully graduated the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, may have take-home use of his assigned squad.

Cincoski added that Miersma “excelled in his field training program.”

The commission expressed its gratitude to Brown’s Mini Storage for its generous contribution of $250 to the CPD Gift Fund.

Cincoski announced that, to mark National Law Enforcement Memorial Week, the CPD will host an event on Friday, May 18, which will include a ceremony, an open house, and other activities.

More information will be released on the event as it’s available, Cincoski said.

Members voted 3-0 to schedule an executive session to discuss personnel issues at 12:30 p.m. Friday, April 27.

In March the CPD responded to 1,973 calls (1,671 in February), filed 59 cases (71), filed 12 felony and 32 misdemeanor charges (19 and 32), issued 252 citations and 427 warnings (116 and 324), served four warrants (two), and investigated 26 accidents with four injuries (28 accidents with 11 injuries).

Last month the CPD assigned 28 juvenile cases and closed 24 of them (seven and seven in February).

Calls for service in March included 36 alarms (26 in February), 17 animal complaints (14), one report of a battery (three), eight burglaries (zero), five burning complaints (zero), 19 disturbances (18), two fireworks complaints (one), three reports of fraud (five), 15 miscellaneous juvenile complaints (16), two missing persons (one), one motor vehicle theft (one), seven noise complaints (four), three parking violations (three), 14 residence checks (14), one robbery (zero), one report of shoplifting (zero), 35 suspicious circumstances (38), 28 suspicious persons (14), 30 suspicious vehicles (31), 20 thefts (37), 660 traffic stops (515), 13 incidents of vandalism (13), and one vehicle repossession (four).

Posted 4/14/2012