Kokomo Police launch autism database

Also, Howard County Sports HOF names 2023 class; Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

This article is brought to you by Freedom Financial.

The Kokomo Police Department initiated a new service to protect autistic children who may wander away from their homes. According to a release issued on Aug. 17, parents or legal guardians now can submit identifying information to the department to help reunite a non-verbal child with their loved ones.

“Recently, we have made calls where a non- verbal, autistic child has wandered from their home and a citizen observed them in a store or walking down the street,” stated KPD Capt. Scott Purtee. “This makes it difficult for the officer to determine where the child lives, or who to contact about the child.

“Today, we are starting a new program. A parent or legal guardian of a non- verbal child can contact us and complete a form for their child. This form will provide emergency contact information for the child, which school they are attending, and if the child has any medical conditions or allergies that the officer should be aware of. Once the form is completed by an officer, the parent can take a photo of the child which we will add to the form.”

The collected information will be placed into a database which officers can access when they encounter a non-verbal child. The department stated that only KPD will be able to access the information. This service also will be offered to families of Alzheimer’s patients. The same process is used, but vehicle information also can be added.

The forms are available through each local school’s resource officer, who can assist in filling out the paperwork.

“We want to be very clear that this is a completely voluntary service that we are offering,” stated Purtee. “A form will not be completed, other than by the child's parent or legal guardian. For an adult, it will also only be accepted from a legal guardian.

“We would also like to thank Engaging Minds Autism Services of Kokomo for their support in this new endeavor.”

Anyone who has questions about this new service is asked to contact Purtee at 765-456-7322.

Howard County Sports Hall of Fame selects 2023 class

The Howard County Sports Hall of Fame has selected seven local sports greats for induction into the hall. Included are athletes, coaches, and contributors representing sports as diverse as wrestling, baseball, basketball, and football, as well as a long-time officiating standout.

“This class easily compares to any other based on achievement and accomplishments,” said Dean Hockney, hall of fame president. “These inductees represent the best that Howard County has to offer in sports. This year’s induction ceremony will certainly be memorable.”

The induction ceremony will be held on Sat., Oct. 28, at Creative Financial Centre. The induction ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. and will be proceeded by a social hour with light refreshments, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and are available by calling Ron Barsh at 765-453-4739.

This year’s class:

Anthony Shumaker played professional baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies and was a standout for Kokomo High School.

Chad Shepherd, part of Howard County wrestling royalty, was a state champion for Western High School and has been the Panther varsity coach for 23 years, collecting sectional and regional titles.

Erwin Cox was a track and field and basketball standout at Kokomo High School and Drake University, where he was a three-year starter on the basketball team as well as excelling in the pole vault. 

Lisa Thompson Bickel collected state and national titles as a basketball player for Kokomo High School and Indiana Wesleyan University, respectively.

Jim Calaway put Eastern High School’s football program on the map, coaching the Comets to a then-state record 37 straight wins from 1961-65, including three straight undefeated 9-0 seasons from 1962-64.

Gary Merrell, a Northwestern High School graduate, played basketball for the Tigers and the University of Findlay before coaching for 36 seasons at seven different schools, collecting 482 wins.

James Robinson has officiated IHSAA State Championship games in baseball, football, and basketball as well as working as a replay official for Big Ten football.

https://www.howardcountysportshof.com/

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

During the Labor Day holiday period, including the end of summertime and the busy holiday weekend, the Howard County Sheriff’s Office will work to decrease impaired driving. From Aug. 18 through Sept. 5, the HCSO will be participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility enforcement period.

The extra high-visibility enforcement is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI). In support of the law enforcement community’s dedication to protecting the lives of residents in their communities, you’ll see officers working together during this time to take drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol off the roads. No matter how you plan to celebrate the end of summer this year, make sure you plan to do it safely.

"Drunk and drugged driving is a choice, not an accident. When you get behind the wheel impaired, you are not just risking your own life, but the lives of everyone else on the road,” said Devon McDonald, ICJI Executive Director. “There is no excuse for putting others in danger. Make the responsible choice and plan for a sober ride home."

About 37 people die in the U.S. in drunk driving crashes every day. That’s approximately one person every 39 minutes and more than 13,384 annually, according to NHTSA.  Of the 949 traffic fatalities that occurred last year in Indiana, 110, or 12 percent, were alcohol related.

While that is a decline from 115 in 2021, there is still a long way to go. This is why the Howard County Sheriff’s Office is working together with NHTSA to remind drivers that drunk driving is not only illegal; it’s a matter of life and death. As you head out to festivities during the end of summer and Labor Day weekend, remember: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. 

"We want our community members to know that we are committed to keeping them safe. That's why we're asking everyone to plan ahead if they know they'll be out drinking. Don't drink and drive. It's illegal, it's dangerous, and it can ruin lives,” said Sergeant Justin Markley. “The Drive Sober campaign is an awareness effort to get the message out about the dangers of drunk driving. We need your help to make our community a safer place. If you see someone who is driving drunk, call 911. Together, we can put an end to this senseless behavior."

During the 2021 Labor Day holiday period, there were 531 crash fatalities nationwide. Of these 531 traffic crash fatalities, 41 percent involved a drunk driver, and more than a quarter involved drivers who were driving with a BAC almost twice the legal limit (.15+ BAC). In Indiana, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher. In addition, drivers under 21 with a BAC of .02 or higher are subject to fines and a license suspension for up to one year.  

Impaired driving includes more than just alcohol. Drugs and even some over-the-counter medications can also cause impairment and can slow coordination, judgment and reaction times on the road.  Officers will be on the lookout for all forms of impairment, in which the consequences can include thousands of dollars in legal fees, increased insurance rates, loss of license, a criminal record and possible jail time. 

There are plenty of options to help impaired drivers get home safely, such as designating a sober driver or calling a taxi or rideshare. Motorists that encounter a drunk driver on the road are encouraged to call 911. For more information on impaired driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving . To learn more about the Sheriff’s Office please visit: sheriff.howardcountyin.gov