Multimillion-dollar budget to improve public safety in Carmel, Indiana
CARMEL, Ind. (WISH) — Mayor Jim Brainard is proposing more than $30 million for the fire department and more than $25 million for police in the proposed budget plan for the year of 2020.
The fire department’s annual budget is normally just below 30 million dollars.
The money will be used to hire 15 more firefighters, pay salaries for current employees, continue to maintain equipment and six existing fire stations across the city.
Fire Chief David Haboush said public safety should meet with the demand of the area’s growing population.
“As the population within Carmel has doubled and tripled over the years, so has the number of responses that we have had,” Haboush said.
The Carmel Fire Department will buy another 100-foot ladder truck. The additional 15 firefighters will help staff it.
“This truck is very versatile in our community because it is an articulating vehicle in the middle and it can navigate alley ways and tight turns within the community,” the fire chief said.
It will provide more space to store equipment, improve car rescues and help decrease response times.
Firefighter Greg Webb told News 8, “It will help us out tremendously because, right now, if we get a working fire, we have to call for another agency to send us another ladder truck because our standard is to have two ladder trucks on every working resident’s fire.”
Webb said they call fire departments in Fishers, Westfield or Indianapolis for help.
The proposed city budget for 2020 plans to give more than $25 million to the police department. The department is looking for three additional officers.
The budget increases will come without a tax increase for residents, officials said.
“This is a proactive approach to us being able to provide better services within our community,” Haboush said.
The Carmel City Council has until Nov. 1 to approve the proposed budget.
Vandals leave racist symbol, writing in Noblesville
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) – Obscene language and a swastika were spray-painted over the weekend near the top of a building in downtown Noblesville.
The Noblesville Police Department said it was reported Monday and occurred over the Labor Day weekend. Officers said they contacted the owner of the building and it was removed hours after it was reported.
“They either had a really tall ladder or they know somebody that lives in the apartments above and they got access that way,” said Jill Janusiewicz, manager at Noblesville Antique Mall.
Many people didn’t want to share their thoughts with News 8 on camera about the incident but said it was shocking to see. Some people even drove by to view it up close. Local businesses said they’re glad it’s now removed as the graffiti, which was shared on social media before being reported to police, brought a lot of negative attention.
People in the downtown square believe someone spray-painted the building at night when businesses are closed. A lot of them questioned how they were able to get up there in the first place.
“I think it’s kids. I think it’s for attention,” Janusiewicz said. ” I think they’re like, ‘Hey let’s do this and see what kind of attention we can get.'”
However, many people told News 8 they’re confident Noblesville is not a racist town.
“It’s (Noblesville), kind of a small-knit community still. Everybody knows everybody. People typically are not afraid to walk on the streets at night or dine or shop or walk. It’s fairly a safe community,” added Janusiewicz.
Police on Monday did not have any potential suspect information.
This message was made clear as hundreds gathered inside the Auburn Arena for the funeral services of Auburn Police Officer William Buechner.
The fallen officer leaves behind a wife and two young children as well as his brothers and sisters in blue, who are shattered by the loss of the 16-year- veteran of the Auburn Police Department.
Services began with an open casket visitation as pictures of Officer Buechner in happier times were shared on large monitors.
Hundreds lined up to pay their respects to the officers’ family at AU’s Arena.
Just before noon Eastern time, the body of slain Auburn Police Officer William Buechner arrived at Auburn Arena for what was an emotional funeral service.
Visitation with Buechner’s family started at noon and concluded just before the 3:00 p.m. EDT funeral service.
A line of officers greeted the procession as it came to a stop just outside the arena door. The Hearse carrying the officer’s body was escorted by the Auburn Police Department’s motor squad and followed by a local motorcycle club that he was a member of called “The Gunners.”
There were more than 3000 officers in Auburn today, from local and national law enforcement communities, with more local honor guards from all corners of Alabama and the Chattahoochee Valley in attendance.
Almost four hours before the funeral service, several hundred officers were outside the arena that is home to the Auburn basketball team, which served as the gathering place to show respect for Officer Buecher.
The officers who came to Auburn from out of state call Chicago, Dallas, Aurora, Colorado; Gulf Port, Mississippi; and more as home.
There was a strong contingent from the Chattahoochee Valley here to show their support. The Columbus and Phenix City Police Departments both sent motor officers.
The Russell County Sheriff’s Office also sent a delegation of 12 deputies. The Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office sent an honor guard while the Harris County Sheriff’s Office sent three cars and deputies.
Five deputies came from the Muscogee County Marshal’s Office, and still more came from all parts to pay tribute.
Buechner was described as a meticulous officer who always went above and beyond the call of duty. A loving husband and father and a man who loved his friends, and riding with his motorcycle club “The Gunners,” the fallen police officer was escorted by a lawn enforcement motorocade at least a mile long.
Together, the gathered mourners and supporters paid tribute to the man who gave his life serving his community.
There can be strength in tears, such as tonight when Auburn is a community in mourning. Yet still they stay resolute as a community, to not let hate or evil win.
Auburn Police Chief Paul Register made a promise to Buechner’s family: that the APD would honor him every day by continuing to protect the community and doing the job he gave his life for.
This message was made clear as hundreds gathered inside the Auburn Arena for the funeral services of Auburn Police Officer William Buechner.
The fallen officer leaves behind a wife and two young children as well as his brothers and sisters in blue, who are shattered by the loss of the 16-year- veteran of the Auburn Police Department.
Services began with an open casket visitation as pictures of Officer Buechner in happier times were shared on large monitors.
Hundreds lined up to pay their respects to the officers’ family at AU’s Arena.
Just before noon Eastern time, the body of slain Auburn Police Officer William Buechner arrived at Auburn Arena for what was an emotional funeral service.
Visitation with Buechner’s family started at noon and concluded just before the 3:00 p.m. EDT funeral service.
A line of officers greeted the procession as it came to a stop just outside the arena door. The Hearse carrying the officer’s body was escorted by the Auburn Police Department’s motor squad and followed by a local motorcycle club that he was a member of called “The Gunners.”
There were more than 3000 officers in Auburn today, from local and national law enforcement communities, with more local honor guards from all corners of Alabama and the Chattahoochee Valley in attendance.
Almost four hours before the funeral service, several hundred officers were outside the arena that is home to the Auburn basketball team, which served as the gathering place to show respect for Officer Buecher.
The officers who came to Auburn from out of state call Chicago, Dallas, Aurora, Colorado; Gulf Port, Mississippi; and more as home.
There was a strong contingent from the Chattahoochee Valley here to show their support. The Columbus and Phenix City Police Departments both sent motor officers.
The Russell County Sheriff’s Office also sent a delegation of 12 deputies. The Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office sent an honor guard while the Harris County Sheriff’s Office sent three cars and deputies.
Five deputies came from the Muscogee County Marshal’s Office, and still more came from all parts to pay tribute.
Buechner was described as a meticulous officer who always went above and beyond the call of duty. A loving husband and father and a man who loved his friends, and riding with his motorcycle club “The Gunners,” the fallen police officer was escorted by a lawn enforcement motorocade at least a mile long.
Together, the gathered mourners and supporters paid tribute to the man who gave his life serving his community.
There can be strength in tears, such as tonight when Auburn is a community in mourning. Yet still they stay resolute as a community, to not let hate or evil win.
Auburn Police Chief Paul Register made a promise to Buechner’s family: that the APD would honor him every day by continuing to protect the community and doing the job he gave his life for.
Just over a year ago, Atlanta hosted the College Football Playoff National Championship game, but this week, the security levels go even higher with Super Bowl 53 in town.
About a million visitors are expected to be in Atlanta as the Rams and Patriots go head to head. And the City of Atlanta is being proactive when it comes to keeping people safe.
“The federal government uses a ranking system on sporting events or large events like the Super Bowl, and this is considered the top, S.E.A.R one, which is the highest ranking you can have below presidential inauguration,” explained Deputy Chief Scott Kreher with the Contingency Operations Division.
With the influx of people in the city, 1,700 members of the Atlanta Police Department are active and alternating in 12-hour shifts.
In addition, more than 50 local, state, and federal agencies are helping out.
Inside the Joint Operations Center, a staff of 50 plus people is able to monitor more than 10,000 cameras that are located throughout the city — and specifically inside the Super Bowl footprint.
“We support 13 different instant command locations throughout the city,” said Kreher. “So those instant commanders that are out there on the street doing the actual work report up to area command here located inside the Joint Command Center.”
Members of the Rams and Patriots have their own security detail through the NFL, although the city will help out at the team hotels and practice facilities.
This way, the players and coaches can focus on football.
“You see cops, you see the army, you see the secret service,” said Robert Woods, Rams wide receiver, adding, “You have to make sure guys are safe.”
Several members of the Atlanta Police Department were on sight for the past two Super Bowls in Houston and Minneapolis to get a better understanding of what to expect for one of the largest sporting events in the world.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO) — Investigators are searching for answers after a series of racist messages were found on the campus of Indiana State University.
In a statement from the ISU Police Department, officials say they are investigating a report of a bias-related incident in a residence hall on Tuesday, between the hours of 4:45 and 5:20 p.m.
An unknown person wrote a derogatory message that contained a racial term on a message board located on the door to a residence. The occupants of the residence were not home at the time of the incident.
While police were investigating this incident, a second incident occurred between 2:50 and 3:10 a.m.
On Wednesday, a second note with threatening undertones and containing a racial term was left outside the same residence door. A Residential Life hall staff member was on the floor and did not see anyone suspicious on the floor.
Indiana State University takes all incidents of discrimination and harassment seriously, and both of these incidents remain under investigation.
University officials encourage reporting any and all suspicious persons and incidents to the police immediately. If anyone on Indiana State’s campus feels unsafe at any time, he or she should contact the ISU Police immediately at 812-237-5555.
For more information on campus crime and safety, go to indstate.edu/pubsafety
NEW LONDON. Conn. (WTNH) — Cell phone video of a registered sex offender allegedly trying to lure a young woman into his car on Wednesday in New London is going viral. It’s been viewed more than 50,000 times on Facebook.
It shows Angell Whittington angrily confront John Dinoto on Blackhall Street. The video also appears to show the man asking Whittington if she needs a ride.
“I”m not really scared for myself,” Whittington said in an exclusive interview.
“I’m not going to get in the car. I know better, but for somebody who’s younger, maybe a teenager, maybe a 16-year-old girl; I just don’t want any other younger people getting fooled by that, or getting tricked into getting into his car because clearly his intentions are bad because he has a history,” she explained.
We checked his criminal history and found Dinoto served nearly 20 years of a 45-year sentence for multiple counts of child sexual assault in a case from the 1990’s. He got out in 2009 but was locked up again in 2013 for allegedly trying to lure another teen girl.
We tracked down the house where Dinoto lives. In fact, his relatives told us he was hunkered down inside since the video spread. We also discovered he lives right next door to a school. His brother an nephew reluctantly identified themselves as family members out of disdain for his alleged actions.
“They should’ve never let him out of jail,” said Ron Dinoto, the offender’s brother. “When you get people like that, they don’t change. I don’t give a damn what anybody says, them people don’t change,” he concluded.
“I saw the video, he should be dead,” said his nephew, Ron Dinoto Jr. “It should be street justice for what he did.”
New London police confirmed they’re investigating, but Whittington says no detectives have followed up since her original report. Messages left for the chief of police were not returned.
“I want him to leave me alone. I want him to leave everyone alone,” Whittington finished.
Rape kits sitting untested across Indiana.
Now, the state is closer to a rape kit database thanks to a bill Gov. Eric Holcomb signed into law.
A statewide audit done late last year found thousands of rape kits were sitting in evidence storage at law enforcement agencies. Back in December, Republican State Sen. Michael Crider, from Greenfield, promised to do something about the kits.
Police said the new law could help smaller departments.
Wednesday, 24-Hour News 8 was granted access inside the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department to show you how they deal with sexual assault kits.
IMPD Officer Michael Hewitt has several years under his belt as a sexual assault investigator. Hewitt, who also is an IMPD spokesman, said “We are there to treat every victim as though you are our family member. That’s what we teach, and that’s what we do.”
According to Hewitt, more than 880 rape cases last year were assigned to IMPD’s sex crimes investigators. Not every kit got tested for several reasons. For example, a victim may decide not to prosecute.
Hewitt said, “We get a sheet once a month that is submitted to investigators showing where your particular case falls in cue in the evidence list to be processed.”
IMPD tests and processes its kits in their own lab. The kits are kept in a property room that has limited access.
As of Tuesday, IMPD had 28 untested rape kits.
“Actually all of the kits are in line to be tested,” Hewitt said. “That just goes to show the dedication and the emphasis that our department and our crime lab have put on in getting these kits tested, getting the evidence that we need as investigators to us.”
In March, Holcomb signed a bill into law that requires the a statewide sexual assault response team to research rape kit testing and tracking databases to figure out which agency would manage and maintain it, and how to fund it. State agencies have until December of this year to get the report finished.
Hewitt said, “With a smaller agency, it might help them just to give them some guidelines.”
Kirat Sandhu, a training coordinator with the Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault, said of the new law, “I think it’s a good first step,” but more work is needed.
“It does not mandate that all of those kits actually be tested or that victims be notified where their kit is at any given time,” Sandhu said. “Until those two things happen, we really won’t see widespread victim support.”
Sandau said she’d like to see more laws next session that get the kits tested. She also wants sexual assault survivors to know their coalition is making sure justice is served.