Response To Tire-Slashing Upsets Pierceton Residents
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
PIERCETON - Sunday morning 33 residents went to their vehicles only to find their tires slashed and other vandalism to their property.
Footprints in the snow led to five juveniles - three Pierceton minors, one from Warsaw and one from Columbia City - believed responsible for the crimes. They cut 56 tires around town. They were placed into custody.
One victim, Lee Joy, wasn't happy with the response he received from an emergency dispatcher.
When he called to report the problem he said a female dispatcher said, "What do you want me to do about it?" Joy said he asked if a police officer was coming to take a report and she said, "No."
"People were calling dispatch about getting officers and they weren't getting a proper answer," another citizen, Annie Espinosa, said. "Everyone was very upset."
Town Council President Jerry Kreger advised Joy there are two regular officers now, since Terry Cahill resigned, and the tire-slashing spree occurred during a shift change. Reserve officers are filling out the open hours.
"I just didn't like the way it was handled," Joy said.
Town lawyer Jim Walmer advised Joy to let Tom Brindle, the central dispatch director, know what happened so they can go over protocol.
Joy was one of the citizens who followed the tracks in the snow that led to a house where the minors were.
"The unfortunate thing about it," said Town Marshal Tim Sammons, "is that this is a financial hardship so close to the holidays. I've asked people to keep their repair and replacement receipts. Now it is up to the prosecuting attorney."
Town councilman Mandy Espinosa asked if there was a curfew and was told by Sammons that there was not.
"And we're dealing with parents who don't know or care where their kids are," Sammons said.
Nine applications were received for the third officer's position. Sammons said three applicants have reserve experience. The names of the qualified individuals have been forwarded to the town council.
Mobile data terminals have been installed in the police cars and training on the devices will take place at the Warsaw Police Department.
Work at the wastewater treatment plant was supposed to be complete in November. The contract was extended to Jan. 4 because the work is not finished.
Public Works Superintendent Chip Hill said he doubted that R.E. Crosby, Fort Wayne, will finish in the next three weeks.
"People scheduled to do things aren't showing up. They still have water lines to install. Maybe they'll be finished by the end of January," Hill said. A $500-per-day fine will be charged for each day the work isn't complete past Jan. 4.
"It's too bad," Kreger said. "They had a dry spring and a dry summer to work."
Cleveland Township Trustee Dean Rhoades and Bob Murphy of R.P. Murphy and Associates, Larwill, appeared at the meeting to talk about a planning grant to put the fire department and the emergency medical service back under one roof.
The EMS has a quarter on the north side of the Senior Center.
In a series of miscommunications, Murphy thought a town representative had called him, when, in fact, Rhoades had called. Murphy set up a meeting with state grant representatives for Dec. 20 to tour the fire station and EMS facilities, along with other sites in the county.
The planning grant requires a contribution of 10 percent of costs from the town.
"The problem is," said Kreger, "is we didn't know about it. If there is a problem with the fire department or the EMS space, they should come to us and talk about it."
Kreger wasn't sure the two departments wanted to share a space either since they are in separate buildings now.
Rhoades took responsibility for the miscommunication.
"The town and the township need to meet and discuss things," Espinoza said. Kreger agreed, saying that hadn't been done for years.
Sue Studebaker, Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District director, attended the meeting, too.
She said two other "bins" to collect recyclable material will be added to the town parking lot soon. Currently, residents can recycle newspaper and cardboard. She said the next two bins would be for other paper and for No. 1 and No. 2 plastics.
Councilman Bob Tenney said the bins were no better than dumpsters, hadn't been painted and that the lids leaked. "They're of very poor quality," he said, "I wouldn't use them for my trash."
Town council members are Jerry Kreger, Mandy Espinosa and Robert Tenney. [[In-content Ad]]
PIERCETON - Sunday morning 33 residents went to their vehicles only to find their tires slashed and other vandalism to their property.
Footprints in the snow led to five juveniles - three Pierceton minors, one from Warsaw and one from Columbia City - believed responsible for the crimes. They cut 56 tires around town. They were placed into custody.
One victim, Lee Joy, wasn't happy with the response he received from an emergency dispatcher.
When he called to report the problem he said a female dispatcher said, "What do you want me to do about it?" Joy said he asked if a police officer was coming to take a report and she said, "No."
"People were calling dispatch about getting officers and they weren't getting a proper answer," another citizen, Annie Espinosa, said. "Everyone was very upset."
Town Council President Jerry Kreger advised Joy there are two regular officers now, since Terry Cahill resigned, and the tire-slashing spree occurred during a shift change. Reserve officers are filling out the open hours.
"I just didn't like the way it was handled," Joy said.
Town lawyer Jim Walmer advised Joy to let Tom Brindle, the central dispatch director, know what happened so they can go over protocol.
Joy was one of the citizens who followed the tracks in the snow that led to a house where the minors were.
"The unfortunate thing about it," said Town Marshal Tim Sammons, "is that this is a financial hardship so close to the holidays. I've asked people to keep their repair and replacement receipts. Now it is up to the prosecuting attorney."
Town councilman Mandy Espinosa asked if there was a curfew and was told by Sammons that there was not.
"And we're dealing with parents who don't know or care where their kids are," Sammons said.
Nine applications were received for the third officer's position. Sammons said three applicants have reserve experience. The names of the qualified individuals have been forwarded to the town council.
Mobile data terminals have been installed in the police cars and training on the devices will take place at the Warsaw Police Department.
Work at the wastewater treatment plant was supposed to be complete in November. The contract was extended to Jan. 4 because the work is not finished.
Public Works Superintendent Chip Hill said he doubted that R.E. Crosby, Fort Wayne, will finish in the next three weeks.
"People scheduled to do things aren't showing up. They still have water lines to install. Maybe they'll be finished by the end of January," Hill said. A $500-per-day fine will be charged for each day the work isn't complete past Jan. 4.
"It's too bad," Kreger said. "They had a dry spring and a dry summer to work."
Cleveland Township Trustee Dean Rhoades and Bob Murphy of R.P. Murphy and Associates, Larwill, appeared at the meeting to talk about a planning grant to put the fire department and the emergency medical service back under one roof.
The EMS has a quarter on the north side of the Senior Center.
In a series of miscommunications, Murphy thought a town representative had called him, when, in fact, Rhoades had called. Murphy set up a meeting with state grant representatives for Dec. 20 to tour the fire station and EMS facilities, along with other sites in the county.
The planning grant requires a contribution of 10 percent of costs from the town.
"The problem is," said Kreger, "is we didn't know about it. If there is a problem with the fire department or the EMS space, they should come to us and talk about it."
Kreger wasn't sure the two departments wanted to share a space either since they are in separate buildings now.
Rhoades took responsibility for the miscommunication.
"The town and the township need to meet and discuss things," Espinoza said. Kreger agreed, saying that hadn't been done for years.
Sue Studebaker, Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District director, attended the meeting, too.
She said two other "bins" to collect recyclable material will be added to the town parking lot soon. Currently, residents can recycle newspaper and cardboard. She said the next two bins would be for other paper and for No. 1 and No. 2 plastics.
Councilman Bob Tenney said the bins were no better than dumpsters, hadn't been painted and that the lids leaked. "They're of very poor quality," he said, "I wouldn't use them for my trash."
Town council members are Jerry Kreger, Mandy Espinosa and Robert Tenney. [[In-content Ad]]