Latest news with #LakeCountyBoardofCommissioners
Chicago Tribune
17-07-2025
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
Commissioners approve Lake County sheriff vehicle SWAT upfit
The Lake County Board of Commissioners approved a sheriff's department request to upfit a SWAT Unit van in a 2-1 vote Wednesday. The Lake County Sheriff's Department requested a 2024 Ford Transit Cargo Van in its SWAT Unit to be upfitted by Tillman's Vehicle Accessories for $67,360.79. The other quotes that came in were from 10-75 Emergency Vehicles for $77,316 Summit Bodyworks for $129,000, and EVI for $148,249. Board president Commissioner Mike Repay, D-3rd, said he voted against the upfit because when the commissioners approved the purchase of the van the sheriff's department did not make clear it would spend more money to upfit the vehicle. 'It's a lack of honesty with the Board of Commissioners with what their plan is for their asset,' Repay said. Repay also expressed his concern with the sheriff's department over emphasizing specialties by purchasing SWAT-style vehicles, boats and ATVs. Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez told the Post-Tribune upfitting the vehicle will allow the department to better serve the 18 communities in its jurisdiction. With final board approval, Martinez said he's 'optimistic' that the vehicle will be operational by the fall. The funding for the upfitting will be paid for with recovered drug money awarded to the sheriff's department by the courts, Martinez said. Martinez previously said the vehicle was purchased in January 2024 for $74,000. The van will assist the department's operations division with law enforcement and search and rescue operations, as well as a standalone vehicle for transport, communications and coordination, Martinez said. In a May letter to the commissioners, Martinez wrote the vehicle should be upfitted to enhance officer safety, like protective lighting to improve personnel security, and boost operational efficiency, like its equipment with communication systems to help with coordinated responses. Additionally, the upfitted vehicle would strengthen community trust by displaying the department's 'commitment to preparedness, enhancing public confidence,' Martinez said. Upfitting the vehicle would also increase its long-term value by reducing the need for future maintenance costs and extend its service life, he said. 'This asset is essential to enhancing the Lake County Sheriff's Department tactical response capabilities, ensuring officer safety, and strengthening community security during high-risk operations,' Martinez wrote in the commissioner's letter. When asked by the Post-Tribune, Martinez said the department has 'several' special operations vehicles dedicated for specialized use, and many are marked, armored units. The vehicles are used to support ground, marine and aviation units, Martinez said, as well as to coordinate internal communications and operations with outside agencies during emergencies and special operations, like search warrants and barricaded individuals. 'Our current fleet lacks a vehicle with these advanced tactical features, limiting our ability to respond effectively to incidents such as hostage situations, active shooter events or barricaded suspects,' Martinez wrote in the commissioner's letter. So far in 2025, the Lake County SWAT team has executed more than 25 high-risk operations across Lake County, including search warrants and felony arrests, Martinez said. 'This upfitting will allow us to provide our tactical officers with a specially-equipped vehicle that can aid us in executing these operations safely and effectively,' Martinez said. 'This unmarked vehicle will allow us to conduct pre-operation surveillance and arrive at target destinations without attracting attention, which can be crucial in situations where countersurveillance may be a concern.'
Chicago Tribune
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
Lake County commissioners defer contract vote to upfit sheriff's SWAT vehicle
The Lake County Board of Commissioners recently deferred a sheriff's department request to upfit a SWAT Unit van as the members raised questions about its purchase. The Lake County Sheriff's Department requested a 2024 Ford Transit Cargo Van in its SWAT Unit to be upfitted by Tillman's Vehicle Accessories for $67,360.79. The other quotes that came in were from 10-75 Emergency Vehicles for $77,316, Summit Bodyworks for $129,000, and EVI for $148,249. Board president Commissioner Mike Repay, D-3rd, said it made sense to go with the lowest bidder, but he raised questions about when the vehicle was purchased. 'I would like to get to the beginning of it,' Repay said. Commissioner Jerry Tippy, R-2nd, asked how the vehicle was purchased. Chief Vince Balbo said the funds for the vehicle came from the state forfeiture accounts for approximately $74,000, but couldn't recall when the van was purchased. In response to the Post-Tribune, Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez said the vehicle was purchased in January 2024. The van will assist the department's operations division with law enforcement and search and rescue operations, as well as a standalone vehicle for transport, communications and coordination, Martinez said. In a May letter to the commissioners, Martinez wrote the vehicle should be upfitted to enhance officer safety, like protective lighting to improve personnel security, and boost operational efficiency, like its equipment with communication systems to help with coordinated responses. Additionally, the upfitted vehicle would strengthen community trust by displaying the department's 'commitment to preparedness, enhancing public confidence,' Martinez said. Upfitting the vehicle would also increase its long-term value by reducing the need for future maintenance costs and extend its service life, he said. 'This asset is essential to enhancing the Lake County Sheriff's Departments tactical response capabilities, ensuring officer safety, and strengthening community security during high-risk operations,' Martinez wrote in the commissioner's letter. When asked by the Post-Tribune, Martinez said the department has 'several' special operations vehicles dedicated for specialized use, and many are marked, armored units. The vehicles are used to support ground, marine and aviation units, Martinez said, as well as to coordinate internal communications and operations with outside agencies during emergencies and special operations, like search warrants and barricaded individuals. 'Our current fleet lacks a vehicle with these advanced tactical features, limiting our ability to respond effectively to incidents such as hostage situations, active shooter events or barricaded suspects,' Martinez wrote in the commissioner's letter. Ultimately, the Lake County Board of Commissioners voted 3-0 June 18 to defer the contract to upfit the vehicle to its July meeting. Martinez said the Lake County Sheriff's Department expects the commissioners will approve the uplifting of the vehicle in July 'in order to provide the Lake County Sheriff's Department with another tool to support operations that provide public safety and security.'
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Lake County Convention Center Is Coming to Gary
It's official. The Lake County Board of Commissioners selected Gary as the site for the new Lake County Convention Center. The commissioners announced the decision Wednesday morning to a packed room and were met with rousing applause from an audience that included Gary residents and city officials. What began as proposals for 14 sites across the county was narrowed to five in March 2024 and ultimately down to two finalists: Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in Gary and Patriot Park in Hobart. 'This was not an easy decision,' Lake County Commissioner Jerry Tippy said. The push for a county convention center began in the Indiana Senate in 2023 when lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 434. Mayor Eddie Melton, a state senator at the time, was the principal author of that bill. That legislation established the Lake County Economic Development and Convention Fund, authorizing resources for a county convention center and opening the door for site proposals to the Board of Commissioners. In 2018, the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, located just off U.S. 30, closed and was demolished, leaving Northwest Indiana without a venue for large conventions and shows. Last year, Gary joined forces with Hard Rock Casino to propose a 145,000-square-foot convention center with 73,000 square feet of meeting and exhibition space, including a 40,000-square-foot exhibit hall and an 18,000-square-foot foot ballroom. The plan includes adding a Hard Rock Hotel, which is estimated to have 300 rooms. The prospect of Gary landing the county convention center has sparked excitement and widespread interest among local officials and residents alike. In March, hundreds of residents from Gary and across Lake County packed St. Timothy Church in the Tolleston neighborhood to hear Mayor Eddie Melton unveil details of Gary's convention center proposal. In the weeks that followed, the city and Hard Rock Casino rolled out a series of commercials highlighting the bid's projected economic boost and showcasing renderings of the new facility. Earlier this year, Gary's bid came under legislative fire from the Hammond City Council and its mayor, Tom McDermott, who attributed $13 million in losses to Gary's casino, which opened in 2022. The post New Lake County Convention Center Is Coming to Gary appeared first on Capital B Gary.
