5400 Federal Plaza
Suite 1500
Hammond, IN 46320

219.937.5500

5th Annual “Keeping Our Communities Safe” Conference

This year’s conference was a huge success with over 130 attendees from 44 different law enforcement agencies throughout the Northern District and the State of Indiana. The United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Indiana, in cooperation with the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, and the Middle Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network (MAGLOCLEN), planned for the conference to take place during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, on April 17-19, 2007, in South Bend, Indiana. The City of South Bend, South Bend Police Department, St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office and St. Joseph County Police Department served as co-hosts for this event at the South Bend Century Center.

During this two and one-half day event, attendees were presented with current information on topics related to: Stress/Vicarious Victimization; U.S. Secret Service's Wireless Tracking Unit; Shattered: Reclaiming a Life Torn Apart by Violence; Indiana National Guard's 53rd Civil Support Team; E-bay and PayPal Fraud; PSN/Violent Crime and Officer Safety; PSN/Gangs and Violent Crime; Adam Walsh Act; Internet Safety and Project Safe Childhood. On April 18, 2007, there was a law enforcement awards luncheon with U.S. Attorney Joseph Van Bokkelen as the presenter.

The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute paid the registration fees for all Indiana State and Local law enforcement officers attending the conference, along with hotel expenses for those traveling more than 50 miles one-way or 100 miles round-trip. The conference was planned and coordinated by U.S. Attorney’s Office through Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (LECC), the District’s Victim/Witness Program and Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council (ATAC).

Law Enforcement Awards

On the secondy day of the 2007 "Keeping Our Communities Safe" Conference, an Awards Luncheon took place and a number of law enforcement awards were presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Several awards were given to agencies that have assisted with significant prosecutions, trainings and other events that involved law enforcement coordination. Awards were also given to individual law enforcement officers who were involved in significant cases prosecuted. Approximately five individual case awards and thirty-one agency awards were presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Indiana Criminal Justice Institute Director Michael Cunegin was the keynote speaker at the Awards Luncheon.