The Chesterton Police Department has a new Chief.

At its meeting Thursday evening, the Police Commission voted unanimously to promote Nick Brown to the position of Interim Police Chief, until such time as the Town Council and Police Commission make a permanent appointment.

Brown has been serving as Assistant Chief since early this year.

Brown succeeds Dave Cincoski, who on or around Jan. 1 will move his office to the municipal complex to assume the duties of Town Manager. He will succeed Town Manager Bernie Doyle, who is retiring on Dec. 31.

Town Council Member Jim Ton, R-1st--the council’s liaison to the CPD--congratulated Brown on his promotion and assured him that he has the council’s full support. “We will do whatever we need to do to facilitate your transition,” Ton said.

“Chief Brown, we are at your disposal,” Member Pete Duda promised.

Ton also took a moment to express his gratitude to Cincoski for his dedication to the CPD, to the Town of Chesterton, and to the community. “Thank you, Dave Cincoski, for your years of service,” he said. “They’re not over yet.”

“Godspeed on your next venture,” Duda added for his own part. “I thank you for your dedicated service to the department.”

“I wish you well, Dave, on your new endeavor,” Member Mike Orlich concurred.

New in the Detective Bureau

In other business, Brown announced that he has moved Sgt. David Virihjevich and Officer Christopher Schoof into the Investigations Division.

“They’re eager and more than happy to take on the new challenge,” Brown told the commission. “They’ll hit the ground running after the first of the year.”

Interviews for New Hire

Meanwhile, Brown reminded the commission that members will be interviewing candidates for the position of probationary patrol officer at 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14.

Those interviews will be conducted in person, but all participants will be wearing masks and practicing social-distancing.

The new hire will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of officer Katelin Bruning, who has moved to Florida to pursue a law enforcement career there.

Vacation Extension

At Brown’s request, members voted unanimously to extend use-or-lose vacation hours into 2021, after Brown reported that approximately eight officers still have as few as eight and as many as 36 hours coming to them.

Cramming those hours into December so as not to lose them would create a manpower shortage over the next few weeks, Brown said.

The CPD “has had a hard time with COVID,” Brown noted, and many officers have been forgoing vacation --or have been working on their days off--"just to cover the road.”

Re: Squad Cars

Brown reported that Bartronics Inc. of Chesterton has completed equipping and striping this year’s order of new squad cars--SUVS actually, a trio of Ford Explorers.

Members then voted unanimously to authorize Brown to seek the Town Council’s permission to purchase four new squads in 2021. Brown told the commission that a squad car was taken out of service early this year and never replaced, and that a fourth vehicle will be needed to put the upcoming new hire on the road.

Donation

Brown also thanked Brown’s Mini Storage for its $100 donation to the CPD Gift Fund.

“We appreciate their donation, especially now with the tough times businesses are having,” Brown said.

November in Review

In November the CPD responded to 673 calls (823 in October); filed 62 cases (71); issued 43 citations and 22 warnings (61 and 65); and investigated 29 accidents with eight injuries (32 accidents with two injuries).

Calls for service included 84 suspicious vehicles or persons (79 in October); 12 thefts (21); five incidents of vandalism (six); 20 alarms (27); four overdoses (two); three animal complaints (six); 54 traffic stops (159); 25 well-being checks (19); one missing person (one); one attempted burglary (one); one burglary (none); one report of battery (three); 25 disturbances (28); and 16 reports of fraud (three);