EDITORIAL: Lessons to learn from Van Til's indictment

Lake County Surveyor George Van Til's name was added Friday to the long list of Northwest Indiana public officials indicted on federal public corruption charges.

Ethics training session

David M. Limardi leads a Shared Ethics Advisory Commission supervisor training session Wednesday at Centennial Park in Munster.

Ethics training session

David M. Limardi leads a Shared Ethics Advisory Commission supervisor training session Wednesday at Centennial Park in Munster.

Ethics training session

RICH JAMES: Not everyone defines ethics the same way

Given the time I've spent covering public corruption trials, you’d think I could easily define ethics.

EDITORIAL: Speak up, train to fight unethical behavior

Former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald and others offered valuable insight Friday at the annual Ethics in Government breakfast meeting: If you don't report corruption, you're an enabler.

Fitzgerald: Stopping government corruption takes more than law enforcement

HOBART | Halting corruption in government takes much more than efforts by law enforcement. It requires changing the culture of those in government and those who are governed to expect and embrace ethical behavior.

'Code of silence' perpetuates graft

Former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald speaks Thursday during an ethics advisory meeting at Avalon Manor in Hobart.

'Code of silence' perpetuates graft

About 150 local officials and others attended an ethics advisory meeting Thursday at Avalon Manor that featured as guest speaker former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

'Code of silence' perpetuates graft

East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland, left, listens Thursday to Schererville town Manager Robert Volkmann speak during an ethics advisory meeting at Avalon Manor in Hobart. Copeland was on a three-person panel that took questions from an audience of about 150 officials and others who attended…

GUEST COMMENTARY: Ethics training pays off, but doesn't cost much

What has the Shared Ethics Advisory Commission done lately? Quite a lot but never enough. The commission is composed of seven member communities -- Crown Point, Dyer, East Chicago, Highland, Munster, Schererville and Whiting. We are a nice mix of urban and suburban, large and small. We welco…

EDITORIAL: Government employees need ethics training

There's a difference between what's ethical and what's legal. What former Lake County Clerk Tom Philpot did — stealing child support money — was illegal. But it was unethical as well.

WILLIAM NANGLE: Leaders continue to emerge in Northwest Indiana

It’s people who make Northwest Indiana special.

Public officials attend ethics training

SCHERERVILLE | For ethical, efficient government to exist in a democracy, all parts of the government — from elected officials to appointed commissions and board — must represent all the people, all the time, and trust between government and residents is a bridge that must be built.

EDITORIAL: Shore up public's trust in local government

So many public corruption indictments have been handed down against public officials in Lake County over the years that voters run the danger of expecting local government officials to be corrupt. That should prompt action by good, decent, honest officials to shore up the public's trust.

EDITORIAL: Dyer situation shows need for new law

When the Dyer Town Council votes on a 17 percent increase in police pension benefits, how will Councilman Joe Cinko vote? Or will he vote at all?

EDITORIAL: Philpot provides incentive for ethics training

Yet another politician has been removed from office because of public corruption. Former Lake County Clerk Thomas Philpot was convicted on five counts of theft and fraud charges.

EDITORIAL: Indiana law makes towns cry 'Uncle'

It says a lot about the state of local government in Indiana that local officials in some communities grumbled about being forced to comply with the nepotism and conflict-of-interest reforms forced on them by a new state law.

East Chicago joins Shared Ethics Advisory Commission

EAST CHICAGO | Elected officials and city employees alike are now eligible for training in good behavior through membership in the regional Shared Ethics Advisory Commission.