The Michigan City Police Department’s Citizens Police Academy concluded its latest session on Nov. 21, 2024 with a graduation ceremony that celebrated the hard work and dedication of its participants. Held at the Michigan City Police Department, the event brought together community members who had spent six weeks learning about the inner workings of law enforcement in their city.
During the final evening, attendees gathered in the classroom for a presentation on cutting-edge technology now being used by the department. The focus of this particular session was the Flock camera system, an advanced automatic license plate reader that has become an essential tool for modern policing in Michigan City. The cameras, mounted throughout the city, capture license plates of stolen vehicles, wanted individuals, or those with suspended licenses. They also allow detectives to create a "hot list" of vehicles related to ongoing investigations. When a flagged vehicle passes one of the cameras, officers are instantly alerted.
Mike King, the department’s training coordinator, highlighted the importance of this technology in both crime deterrence and investigation.
“It’s a vital tool for both patrol and investigative work, and it acts as a crime deterrent,” King said. “If you’re committing crimes in Michigan City, you’re likely to pass one of these cameras, and we’ll use it to catch criminal activity. It’s also integrated with the Amber Alert and Silver Alert systems, helping us respond to urgent situations involving missing individuals.”
The evening also featured final remarks from King and Chief Marty Corley, who praised the academy’s role in fostering stronger community-police relations.
“The Citizens Police Academy gives local residents an inside look at how we operate,” King said. “It humanizes the badge and makes us more approachable while bridging the gap between citizens and law enforcement.”
Corley also emphasized the academy’s ability to break down misconceptions about police work.
“What’s often missed is the human side of being a police officer,” Corley said. “Yes, we have to be tough at times, but we also have compassion, empathy, fear, and anger—just like everyone else. We’re not one-dimensional. We go home to our families, attend parent-teacher conferences, and grocery shop like anyone else.”
Monica Komasinski, executive director of Leadership La Porte County, spoke highly of the hands-on nature of the program.
“I really liked that this is a hands-on academy, not just sitting and listening,” she said. “We actually get immersed in the role of a police officer. To truly learn about your community, you have to jump in and try things you wouldn’t ordinarily do. This program gave me that opportunity.”
The highlight of the evening came when Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch made a surprise appearance and addressed the graduates. In a heartfelt speech, she congratulated the attendees for completing the academy and reflected on the challenges and rewards of leadership.
“When you leave here and step into leadership roles in the community, remember this: you’ll have to make hard decisions, sometimes ones that not everyone agrees with,” she said. “As leaders, the expectations are higher. You need to expect criticism—darts thrown at you, even chainsaws brought out—but stay the course because what you’re doing is important for our community and neighborhoods.”
Nelson Deuitch also encouraged the graduates to challenge misinformation when they encounter it.
“One of the biggest problems we face is misinformation,” she said. “People make assumptions or spread rumors without ever asking the source. When you hear something that’s not true, correct it. It’s important to understand and share the truth about what’s happening in our community.”
The evening concluded with the presentation of certificates to the graduates, marking the end of a program that not only educated participants on the work of the Michigan City Police Department but also forged connections between law enforcement and the community. As they left, the graduates expressed a greater understanding and appreciation of the challenges police face, with many now eager to share what they had learned with others in the community.
Through initiatives like the Citizens Police Academy, Michigan City continues to build stronger, more informed relationships between the police force and the residents it serves. Learn more about this program by visiting Citizen's Police Academy | Michigan City, IN.
