GUEST COMMENTARY: Property crimes, 911 consolidation key public safety issues

Law enforcement officials in the region will face challenging times this year as Lake County deals with consolidated dispatching centers and police deal with increased property crimes.

Thin Blue Line - Ride along with Hammond Police

The Times was invited to join Hammond Police Chief Brian Miller to get a rare glimpse of the police on patrol in the late hours of Fourth of July. Part of the Thin Blue Line series.

Photos: Hammond 'can't afford to wait' on 911 dispatch consolidation

Hammond 'can't afford to wait' on 911 dispatch consolidation

0918TBL.RADIO03, Ridealong with Hammond Police Department

Hammond Police Chief Brian Miller responds to a call while on patrol on July 4, 2010 in Hammond, IN.

0918TBL.RADIO05, Ridealong with Hammond Police Department

Hammond Police Chief Brian Miller, left, responds to a domestic disturbance call on the July 4, 2010. The NWI Times had an exclusive ride along with Hammond Police Chief Brian Miller.

0918TBL.RADIO02, Ridealong with Hammond Police Department

Police investigate complaints of a shooting In Hammond, IN, on the July 4, 2010. A male suspect was eventually found hidden in the back seat of a vehicle that crossed over state lines; he was taken into custody. The NWI Times had an exclusive ride along with Hammond Police Chief Brian Miller…

0918TBL.RADIO04, Ridealong with Hammond Police Department

A gun is recovered after officers investigated a complaint of shots fired while on patrol on July 4, 2010. The NWI Times had an exclusive ride along with Hammond Police Chief Brian Miller.

Ridealong with Hammond Police Department

A woman is padded down while her child stays close by after calls of shots fired led to a high speed pursuit in Hammond, IN, crossing over into Calumet City, IL, on the July 4, 2010. A male suspect was found hidden in the back seat of the vehicle the women and the child were in and the man w…

Police departments seek female officers

Gary police Cpl. Nina Evans talks to Officer LaKesha Joseph, left, on Saturday in Gary. It was Joseph's one-year anniversary on the force. Some region police departments -- including Cedar Lake, Crown Point, Lowell and St. John -- do not have any sworn female officers. Others, including Chic…

More female officers are out in the field

Lake County Kanine Unit Officer Amber Mangum gets help from her K-9 dog, Sasha, who sniffs for drugs after a driver who was stopped for making an illegal u-turn turned up with a prior arrest for narcotics during Mangum's shift in Gary, IN, Saturday, September 11, 2010.

More female officers are out in the field

Lake County Canine Unit Officer Amber Mangum patrols the area while working in Gary, IN, with her k-9 dog, Sasha, Saturday, September 11, 2010.

Taking the politics out of promotions

Officer Joe Martinez, right, of Hammond, provides backup in the early hours of July 5 while officers respond to a call in Hammond.

Photos: Local police 'hold the line'

Through an eight-day series, The Times will present an extensive analysis of crime and crime-fighting resources in Northwest Indiana and Chicago's south suburbs.

Overall regional crime on the decline

East Chicago police Officer Hector Rosario responds to a call for backup during a traffic stop in East Chicago. In East Chicago, overall crime is on the decline.

Thin Blue Line: Ridealong with East Chicago Police

The Times spends a night riding with an East Chicago Police officer as part of the Thin Blue Line project. Through an eight-day series, The Times will present an extensive analysis of crime and crime-fighting resources in Northwest Indiana and Chicago's south suburbs.

Local police 'hold the line'

Hammond police officers seeks for a suspect after a shooting was reported in Hammond. The suspect was later brought into custody after a high-speed pursuit across the state line in Calumet City.

Local police 'hold the line'

East Chicago police Officer Hector Rosario fills out paperwork after making an arrest. After his shift his over, he will clock several hours of overtime working on a sobriety checkpoint.

Local police 'hold the line'

Cpl. William Pouch, center, a Crown Point officer, performs a sobriety test on a woman during a checkpoint in downtown Crown Point.

Local police 'hold the line'

East Chicago police Officer Hector Rosario looks through a database he created while searching for individuals with warrants while patrolling in his police vehicle in East Chicago. "My thing is warrants," he said. "I love picking up people with warrants."

Local police 'hold the line'

East Chicago police Officer Justin Orange, right, checks the pockets of Jose Bonilla Villanueva after answering a call in East Chicago. Villanueva was charged with possession of marijuana. The man on the left was let go.