EAST CHICAGO | A lot has changed in the city, new Police Chief Augusto "Gus" Flores admitted on Tuesday, since he first retired from the force 19 years ago.

When he takes over next week, for one thing, the 22-year veteran will be working atop the expansive $55 million James Knight Public Safety Facility, rather than the decaying Depression-era office he left in 1990.

But one thing that hasn't changed, Flores said after receiving his oath of office from Mayor George Pabey is the importance of community involvement in maintaining order.

"The city needs the help of the community," said Flores, who spent 14 years with federal, state and private crime-fighting organizations before returning to city work in 2004.

"People want to feel safe," Flores said. "They want their children to be safe."

Cooperation between residents and police will play a vital role in ensuring the success of the sweeping improvements currently under way, Flores said, from the North Harbor revitalization project to the city's south side.

"It's an exciting time to be chief of police in East Chicago," said Flores. Pabey had succeeded him as East Chicago's top law enforcement officer when he left office.

Taking a page from Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr.'s monthly "night out" meetings with residents, Flores said he hopes to establish regular public get-togethers in each council district where police and city department heads can talk informally with neighbors.

And he said he would like to put police-staffed substations, similar to the one currently being built at Main Street and Broadway to anchor the North Harbor project, throughout the city.

No major, immediate personnel changes are planned for within the Police Department, Flores said, though he will be looking at upper-echelon staff with an eye toward putting together his own leadership team after a period of evaluation.

Outgoing Chief Angelo Machuca Jr. will remain with the force, Flores said, to assist with the transition and offer his experience and investigative talents to the department.

Most of all, Flores said he wants to bring "compassionate professionalism" to law enforcement efforts in East Chicago.

"Kind doesn't mean weak," Flores said. "We need the human touch, not forgetting that people -- both victims and offenders -- have rights which need to be protected."