By PAULENE POPARAD

Meeting briefly Tuesday, the Porter Metropolitan Police Commission learned that no accidents have occurred at the intersection of Waverly Road and U.S. 20 since the state recently adjusted the timing on the traffic signal there.

For more than a year the commission had sent letters as well as a petition with hundreds of signatures seeking the change after several serious accidents at the intersection; many occurred when a motorist was attempting a left-hand turn against oncoming eastbound traffic.

The Indiana Department of Transportation, after initially rejecting any changes, adjusted the signal timing so the eastbound and westbound traffic each goes one at a time while the northbound and southbound traffic proceeds on the same green signal.

Commented commission secretary Rita Newman, “It’s really working quite well.”

Police Chief James Spanier said the Waverly/U.S. 20 intersection is now on an INDOT list to have full-fledged designated left-turn lanes installed as soon as funds become available. No timetable was given.

The commission complimented Spanier’s Sept. 23 letter, authorized last month, to former commission member Brian Dahlin thanking him for his previous contributions toward getting the signal upgraded. In addition, Spanier told Dahlin, “The Dispatch rules and regulations you were instrumental in bringing to the department also are still working out great.”

Also Tuesday vice-president Linda Hodges, subbing for absent president Bill Donley, asked when no-parking signs will be installed along East Oak Hill Road. Spanier said the Porter Public Works Department is establishing the required distances and number of signs needed to do the installation.

Hodges described as “fantastic” the response she received from new Public Works superintendent Brenda Brueckheimer after Hodges contacted her about a matter.

Spanier said with summer waning police activity for the month of August was down with 545 total calls resulting in nine felony arrests and 26 for misdeameanors. Traffic stops numbered 88 with 40 citations, 45 written warnings and 15 verbal warnings.

Operating while intoxicated numbered three; driving while suspended-prior, two; and wreckless driving, one in addition to one local ordinance violation and nine vehicle lockouts. Four VIN checks were made. Regarding narcotics, there were two cases each for possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia as well as one for possession of a controlled substance.

Porter police made 14 business checks, 72 assists to other departments, 15 assists to citizens, six off-duty assists, had four juvenile reports, made three each assists to other jurisdictions and found-property calls, had two each lost property and town-incident calls, and one each civil matter and general information.

There were 14 animal control calls, 10 business and two residential alarms, and of 70 calls to emergency 911, 14 were misdials. Police also had 221 other calls. Officers drove 91 percent of their total 13,968 miles in August for on-duty purposes. Off-duty mileage was 1,325.

There were 22 thefts, six battery, four criminal mischief; two each fraud, stolen bicycle and threats; and one each counterfeiting, disturbance, harassment, intimidation, possession of alcohol by minor, property damage, public intoxication, trespass and warrant service.

Posted 9/20/2007