Lake County shifting funds to cover public safety overtime expenses

The Lake County Jail is located at 2293 N. Main St. in Crown Point.

CROWN POINT — Understaffed Lake County public safety services are preparing to shift money in their budgets to cover larger than expected employee overtime expenses.

The Lake County Council is set to approve the transfers Tuesday after department leaders explained the situation — a familiar one to many Region employers — during the council's Thursday study session.

At the Lake County Jail, Warden Todd Wasmer said he's 56 correctional officers short of the 222 authorized for the facility that's capable of housing about 1,040 inmates but generally locks up about 800 a night.

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He's asking the council to move $850,000 from the jail's protective services line item to overtime ($800,000) and furniture and fixtures ($50,000), so he can pay the officers taking on extra work in the absence of additional colleagues and replace some needed equipment.

"With the amount of overtime that we're paying to cover all of our mandatory posts, we need that moved down from what we would pay staff to the overtime," Wasmer said.

The 56 open posts at the jail actually are an increase compared to last year when the jail was about 47 correctional officers short of full strength.

Wasmer said council action to hike starting pay to $50,000 a year, with generous county benefits, has attracted more applicants, but many turn out to be "not viable candidates" and maybe or three or four get hired of every 100 people expressing interest in the job.

"It's just a rough process," he said. "It's a nationwide issue that no one can seem to find the answers for."

Councilman Ted Bilski, D-Hobart, said he believes the impact of the jail staffing shortage could be minimized, and less overtime required, if the sheriff and prosecutor would work together to get nonviolent inmates awaiting trial put on electronic monitoring instead of just sitting in the jail.

"If we could take 100 people out of jail that are nonviolent and put them on the bracelets, that's a step, I think, in the right direction," Bilski said.

Riding Shotgun with Merrillville Police Officer Amanda Earley

Other council members expressed interest in implementing electronic or biometric timekeeping devices at the jail to ensure correctional officers are working all the regular and overtime hours they're currently reporting on paper time sheets.

The overtime funding transfer is smaller at the Lake County 911 center. But the ask is similar — shifting $475,000 designated for regular employees to pay overtime to staffers doing extra work stemming from about 20 vacant posts at the 24-hour emergency response facility.

Director Mark Swiderski told the county council his department also is actively recruiting new workers wherever it can, including high schools, since 911 telecommunicators only have to be 18 years old instead of 21 like corrections and police officers.

Age: 34

Residence: Hammond, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304645

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department

Offense Description: BATTERY - AGGRAVATED - W/INJURY

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 37

Residence: Chicago, IL

Booking Number(s): 2304663

Arrest Date: May 17, 2023

Arresting Agency: Munster Police Department

Offense Description: BATTERY - SIMPLE - TOUCH W/NO INJURY

Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor

Age: 26

Residence: Chicago, IL

Booking Number(s): 2304632

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department

Offense Description: BATTERY - SIMPLE - AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT OR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIAL

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 48

Residence: East Chicago, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304638

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department

Offense Description: THEFT - PROPERTY - SHOPLIFTING - < $750

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 43

Residence: Gary, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304654

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department

Offense Description: OPERATING A VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING PRIVILEGES ARE SUSPENDED

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 61

Residence: Goodland, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304651

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: Dyer Police Department

Offense Description: POSSESSION - METHAMPHETAMINE

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 45

Residence: Gary, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304649

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department

Offense Description: DEALING - COCAINE OR NARCOTIC DRUG

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 59

Residence: Chicago, IL

Booking Number(s): 2304634

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department

Offense Description: THEFT - PROPERTY - SHOPLIFTING - $750 TO $50,000;

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 44

Residence: Grant Park, IL

Booking Number(s): 2304633

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department

Offense Description: THEFT - PROPERTY - SIMPLE - W/PRIOR CONVICTION

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 38

Residence: Lake Station, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304642

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: Lake Station Police Department

Offense Description: THEFT - PROPERTY - SIMPLE - W/PRIOR CONVICTION

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 41

Residence: Winfield, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304655

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: Winfield Police Deparatment

Offense Description: DOMESTIC BATTERY - SIMPLE

Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor

Age: 38

Residence: Lake Station, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304650

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: Lake Station Police Department

Offense Description: POSSESSION - COCAINE OR NARCOTIC DRUG; OWI

Highest Offense Class: Felonies

Age: 31

Residence: East Chicago, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304660

Arrest Date: May 17, 2023

Arresting Agency: Hammond Police Department

Offense Description: DOMESTIC BATTERY - SIMPLE

Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor

Age: 43

Residence: Chicago, IL

Booking Number(s): 2304629

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department

Offense Description: FRAUD - INSTITUTION - BANK/FINANCIAL

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 35

Residence: Hammond, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304625

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: LCCS

Offense Description: CONFINEMENT

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 27

Residence: Chicago, IL

Booking Number(s): 2304628

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department

Offense Description: BATTERY - AGGRAVATED - W/MODERATE BODILY INJURY

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 22

Residence: Hammond, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304627

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: Hammond Police Department

Offense Description: OWI

Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor

Age: 24

Residence: Gary, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304641

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department

Offense Description: ROBBERY

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 23

Residence: Ford Heights, IL

Booking Number(s): 2304630

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department

Offense Description: FRAUD - FORGERY

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 29

Residence: Munster, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304636

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department

Offense Description: INTIMIDATION - STALKING VIOLATIONS

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 40

Residence: Schererville, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304648

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: Schererville Police Department

Offense Description: OWI

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 39

Residence: Chicago, IL

Booking Number(s): 2304635

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department

Offense Description: FRAUD - FORGERY

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 64

Residence: Merrillville, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304626

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department

Offense Description: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION - TRAFFICKING WITH AN INMATE

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 23

Residence: Hammond, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304661

Arrest Date: May 17, 2023

Arresting Agency: Hammond Police Department

Offense Description: THEFT - PROPERTY - SIMPLE - < $750; CONFINEMENT; RESISTING - INTERFERING WITH PUBLIC SAFETY; MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT

Highest Offense Class: Felonies

Age: 48

Residence: Gary, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304623

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: Other

Offense Description: ROBBERY

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 20

Residence: Merrillville, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304631

Arrest Date: May 16, 2023

Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department

Offense Description: BATTERY - AGGRAVATED - W/DEADLY WEAPON

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 43

Residence: Crown Point, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304684

Arrest Date: May 17, 2023

Arresting Agency: New Chicago Police Department

Offense Description: OWI

Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor

Age: 46

Residence: Lansing, IL

Booking Number(s): 2304681

Arrest Date: May 17, 2023

Arresting Agency: Munster Police Department

Offense Description: OWI

Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor

Age: 28

Residence: DeMotte, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304683

Arrest Date: May 18, 2023

Arresting Agency: Schneider Police Department

Offense Description: POSSESSION - FIREARM - HANDGUN - W/NO PERMIT

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 20

Residence: Oak Forest, IL

Booking Number(s): 2304680

Arrest Date: May 17, 2023

Arresting Agency: Indiana State Police

Offense Description: OWI

Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor

Age: 40

Residence: St. Petersburg, FL

Booking Number(s): 2304677

Arrest Date: May 17, 2023

Arresting Agency: Lake County Sheriff's Department

Offense Description: RIVERBOAT GAMBLING- CASINO GAMBLING VIOLATIONS

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 43

Residence: Hammond, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304671

Arrest Date: May 17, 2023

Arresting Agency: LCCC

Offense Description: OWI

Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor

Age: 41

Residence: Schererville, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304678

Arrest Date: May 17, 2023

Arresting Agency: Schererville Police Department

Offense Description: CONFINEMENT - KIDNAPPING

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 32

Residence: Merrillville, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304673

Arrest Date: May 17, 2023

Arresting Agency: LCCC

Offense Description: BATTERY - AGGRAVATED - W/BODILY INJURY

Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor

Age: 27

Residence: Gary, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304670

Arrest Date: May 17, 2023

Arresting Agency: Gary Police Department

Offense Description: DEALING - COCAINE OR NARCOTIC DRUG

Highest Offense Class: Felony

Age: 38

Residence: Gary, IN

Booking Number(s): 2304672

Arrest Date: May 17, 2023

Arresting Agency: LCCC

Offense Description: Domestic Battery

Highest Offense Class: Misdemeanor

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Chief Political Reporter

Dan has reported on Indiana state and local government for The Times since 2009. He also covers casinos, campaigns and corruption.

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