Latest news with #WestfieldPoliceDepartment
Indianapolis Star
6 days ago
- Indianapolis Star
Speeders beware: Westfield police plan increase in traffic enforcement
Speeders beware — police in Westfield have plans to increase traffic enforcement. 'People care about their neighborhoods and are concerned with speeders and people running stop signs,' Westfield chief of police Shawn Keen said. 'It's important to a lot of people, so we're going to focus on that.' Keen, who took over as police chief last spring, presented a new strategic plan for the police department to city councilors on the evening of Aug. 11, followed by a commitment from Mayor Scott Willis to be more "aggressive" on crime in the low-crime city. Westfield Police Department will add an officer to its traffic unit next year as well as in 2027, according to the strategic plan. 'This action will also provide the necessary personnel to address traffic control and temporary road closures for special events,' Keen's presentation reads. 'As part of this strategy, the traffic unit will increase enforcement of speeding related complaints and deployments of speed measuring signs.' The police department is also working with the Westfield Washington School District to add school resource officers so that there's one at each school by 2028. Keen and the department crafted the strategic plan using crime data, census information, input from police department personnel and info from a community survey. Many survey respondents asked for increased traffic enforcement, the police chief said. Westfield police also plan to increase their presence on the city's trails. Last month, City Council approved a controversial ordinance that allows expanded use of golf carts on trails in the city. The ordinance will take effect in November. Some residents, during the public comment period for the golf cart ordinance, complained that trail rules haven't been enforced well in Westfield in the past. "You will see increased patrols on the trails, especially during the high traffic areas, like the weekends,' Keen said at the most recent city council meeting. Increased patrols on Westfield's trails are expected to start next week after the conclusion of the LIV Golf event in the city, the police chief said. The strategic plan also calls for more focus on community policing throughout the entire city, with officers focusing on certain districts. More news: A special census is getting underway in Westfield. Here's why "When officers are assigned to a district that means they're going to take responsibility for everything in that district,' Keen said. 'If I have a trail that runs through my district or a neighborhood, that's my responsibility to check on.' By assigning officers to districts, Keen hopes the department will be more visible throughout the entire city and that walk patrols and personal contacts by officers with residents will increase. 'We need to be visible in our neighborhoods and our community,' Mayor Willis said. 'The plan of community relations and the districts will go a long way in (our police) being more visible and giving our residents the security they want and the knowledge we are keeping them safe." Toward the end of the presentation from Keen, the mayor pointed out a new philosophy when it comes to chasing suspects in the city. Under previous police chiefs, the Westfield Police Department had a no-chase policy when it came to fleeing suspects, the mayor said. "We're going to get more aggressive,' Willis said. 'My strategy, Chief Keen's strategy is very different. If you come into Westfield and you're a criminal, you're going to pay a price and we will hold you accountable.' Last week, a suspect was arrested after fleeing Westfield police during a traffic stop then crashing his car and allegedly firing at officers. But even as the city's population has quickly increased the past few years, violent and property crime rates are low in Westfield compared to state and national rates. Keen told city councilors that in 2023, Westfield's violent crime rate was .75 incidents per 1,000 residents, while the property crime rate was just under nine incidents per 1,000 residents. Both of those stats were well below Indiana and the country's rates. Indiana's violent crime rate in 2023 was around three cases per 1,000 residents, and the state's property crime rate for 2023 was above 14 incidents per 1,000 residents, according to Keen's presentation.
Indianapolis Star
05-08-2025
- Indianapolis Star
Westfield residents asked to lock doors, stay inside as police search for armed man
This story will update. Westfield residents between 191st Street to 196th Street and U.S. 31 to Flippins Road are asked to lock their doors and stay inside as police search the area for an armed man who fled from a car chase on foot. The suspect is described as a Black man with dreadlocks wearing a dark blue or black hoodie or sweatshirt. Police have formed a perimeter around the area. Publicly available flight data shows an Indiana State Police helicopter circling near the intersection of East 191st Street and U.S. 31. Anybody who sees suspicious activity is asked to call 911 or the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department at (317) 773-1282. The circumstances leading up to the police chase have not been made available at the time of publication. The Westfield Police Department characterized the situation as "an active investigation."
USA Today
18-07-2025
- USA Today
Man found dead amid investigation for selling counterfeit sports memorabilia
An Indiana man being investigated for selling counterfeit sports memorabilia was found dead by suicide at his home Wednesday, July 16 when police conducted search warrants at the same residence. Brett Lemieux, a 45-year-old resident of Westfield, Indiana, was the founder of sports memorabilia site MisterManCave, which claimed to have sold millions of counterfeit items with net profits exceeding $350 million, and had "the largest framed jersey inventory on the web." Lemieux made the claims in a now-deleted Facebook post on the "Autographs 101" group Wednesday, saying the money was "too good" to pass up and that he wanted to stop the fraud, which had been going on for the better part of two decades. The coroner's office in Hamilton County, Indiana confirmed that Lemieux's body was found at 300 block of Hoover Street in Westfield, about 20 miles north of Indianapolis and that he died by suicide. His death took place hours after the Facebook post and where law enforcement conducted search warrants Tuesday. The FBI is assisting with the investigation, said Chris Bavender of public affairs with the FBI field office in Indianapolis. "We are referring media to Westfield Police Department as they are the lead agency," Bavender said. The Westfield Police Department did not immediately respond to a request by voicemail and email for additional information. Kayla Arnold, Director of Communications for the city of Westfield, said, "As the investigation is still ongoing, we do not have additional details to release at this time." Lemieux's scheme involved the faking of holograms of several high-profile companies in the sports memorabilia space, including Fanatics, James Spence Authentic, Panini and Tri-Star. Lemieux allegedly sold the fake items below market price, therefore earning a profit. Lemieux said when Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant died in January 2020, MisterManCave released 80,000 fake items "into the marketplace." He did not say how much he made off of the scheme. Steve Grad, a memorabilia autograph expert, told WRTV, the ABC affiliate in Indianapolis, that Lemieux's schemes were common knowledge amongst those in the industry. "People have known about this guy," Grad said. "They've known his work. They know what he's been up to. "He has been at it for years and years. And he's driven down the price of things. You know, you look at a Tom Brady autograph and Tom Brady's value is affected drastically by this individual." In 2013, the Indiana Attorney General's filed a lawsuit against a Carmel sports memorabilia company owned by Lemieux after customers complained that they never received items they paid for, according to Fox59 in Indianapolis and other media outlets. He was forced to pay restitution and reached a settlement of $8,550 with the attorney general's office, according to the Sports Collectors Daily and other media outlets. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Westfield apartment fire claims life
WESTFIELD — A fire in a Franklin Street apartment building Thursday night claimed one person's life, according to fire officials. 'On behalf of the Westfield Fire Department, I want to express our condolences to the victim's family and loved ones,' said Westfield Fire Chief Patrick Egloff in a statement provided by the state Department of Fire Services Friday. Just after 10:30 p.m., the Westfield Fire Department and Westfield Police Department responded to a central station alarm and 911 calls reporting a fire at 36 Franklin St. First responders saw fire showing from a first-floor apartment, with witnesses saying there was a person trapped inside, according to the statement. Firefighters attacked the fire at the front of the building while additional personnel entered the rear of the building in an attempt to locate the occupant. After battling heavy smoke and flames, firefighters later located the resident, a woman with limited mobility. She was deceased. The woman's name is not being released at this time, fire officials said. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct a formal identification procedure and determine the cause and manner of her death. The fire went to two alarms, drawing all unassigned Westfield firefighters and mutual aid to the scene. It extended to the second floor of the four-story brick structure, while upper floors sustained smoke damage. All residents of the nine-unit building have been displaced, fire officials said. The origin and cause of the fire are being investigated by the Westfield Fire Department, Westfield Police Department, State Police fire investigators assigned to the State Fire Marshal's office, and State Police detectives assigned to the Hampden District Attorney's office. Firefighters with the 104th Fighter Wing from Barnes Air National Guard Base provided mutual aid at the scene while the fire departments of Holyoke and West Springfield provided station coverage. Developer plans high-end housing on part of pre-tornado Cathedral High campus 30 Mass. National Guard troops with historic ties to Revolution marching in DC Army parade Getting the construction industry 'Sublime ready' with or without the federal government Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Westfield Police Department to acquire new K-9 unit, handler needed
WESTFIELD — With the Westfield Police Department planning on acquiring a new K-9 unit in late summer, four officers currently on the force are competing to become its handler. 'You've got to run with the dogs,' police Capt. Steve Dickinson said on the importance of the unit's next handler being in excellent shape. To learn if the candidates can meet the physical fitness requirements, they performed the Cooper Test Monday morning at the Roots Athletic Complex. The test is designed to provide a simple way to assess an individual's cardiovascular. 'When the dog is running through the woods during a search, they've got to be able to stay with them the whole time,' Dickinson said about the handler. The department hasn't had a K-9 unit for several years, but starting in 2000, it acquired Duke, who eventually retired and was replaced by Falco, Mako, and Ares. That would change when Jerome Pitoniak was named the department's chief in October 2023. During his interview in front of the Police Commission, Pitoniak, responding to a question about the new initiatives for the department if appointed, acquiring a K-9 unit was one of his goals. With Pitoniak appointed, police Detective Christopher Coach applied to The Hometown Foundation Inc., a Connecticut-based nonprofit that raises money for animal welfare, providing assistance to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, helping those affected major illnesses, providing assistance for military service members and their families, and helping emergency response personnel, which includes providing grants to police departments to acquire K-9 units. Coach said the foundation donated $14,500 for the purchase of a new unit, a GPS tracking collar, and a bullet- and stab-proof vest. He wanted to thank the foundation, including Meghan Sullivan. 'She was great to work with. We're grateful for their support,' Coach said. Coach said one of the reasons the department qualified for the grant was because many of the departments in neighboring towns only have access to State Police K-9 units. The Southwick Police Department has a K-9 unit, but other towns like Montgomery, Russell, Southampton and Granville don't. Those units, including Southwick's, are not always immediately available, and time, especially when searching for suspect that has run from the scene of a crime or for an elderly person with dementia that has wandered away from home, becomes important, Dickinson said. 'Those minutes matter,' he said. How the dog is trained determines what types of roles it will have. Dickinson said the department is planning on using the unit primarily for searching, but it will also used for narcotics detection and general patrol duty. The training is provided by the Hampden County Sheriff's Office, Coach said. It has two certified trainers, and the service is offered at no charge to the city. The first step, however, is to find the right officer. That officer will spend a significant amount of time during the training process, which can take months, and then when on duty. Off duty, the unit usually goes home with its handler. Read the original article on MassLive.
