Our History

The first meeting to create the Northwest Indiana Major Crimes Task Force was held on February 3, 2006 at Calumet College of St. Joseph in Hammond, and was facilitated by the college’s Public Safety Institute.

It was determined that planning for the unexpected is basic to law enforcement’s preparedness and effectiveness. Furthermore, it was recognized that for law enforcement to investigate heinous and complex violent crimes, the most effective means to accomplish that duty would be through the sharing of resources and personnel. Therefore, it would be the purpose of the Northwest Indiana Major Crimes Task Force, as a specialized investigative unit, to provide the citizens of Northwest Indiana with the most effective law enforcement skills to protect against those who engage in actions detrimental to the safety of the public.

The established Case Acceptance Guidelines for Major Crimes to be activated are any real or suspected violent crime such as:

  1. Homicide
  2. Non-Parental Kidnapping
  3. Serial Arson, Rape, Sexual Assault
  4. Police Involved Shooting, Deadly Force, In-Custody Deaths
  5. Other Exceptionally Heinous Offenses

On May 17-19, 2006, Calumet College of St. Joseph sponsored a “Major Case Management” training program that was held at the Hobart Police Department’s Southlake Sub-station. Chief Daniel McDevitt of the Lansing (IL) Police Department, a career law enforcement professional who was instrumental in the development of other major case squads in the Midwest, presented the training program and would also serve as a consultant to the Northwest Indiana initiative. Thirty-nine detectives were awarded certificates upon completion of the training.

On June 7, 2006, the first official Board Meeting of the Northwest Indiana Major Crimes Task Force was held at the Crown Point Fire Department Training Room. “Major Crimes” was now “active” and ready to provide investigative assistance to any member agency.

The first Executive Board would consist of:

  • President: Chief Fred Frego, St. John Police Department
  • Vice-President: Chief Keith Hefner, Crown Point Police Department
  • Treasurer/Spokesperson: Chief Robert Byrd, NICTD Transit Police Department
  • Secretary: Chief Pete Hojnicki, Highland Police Department

The following seventeen departments were the original members of the Northwest Indiana Major Crimes Task Force:

  • Cedar Lake Police Department
  • Crown Point Police Department
  • Dyer Police Department
  • East Chicago Police Department
  • Gary Police Department
  • Griffith Police Department
  • Hammond Police Department
  • Highland Police Department
  • Hobart Police Department
  • Lake County Sheriff’s Department
  • Merrillville Police Department
  • Munster Police Department
  • NICTD Transit Police Department
  • Schererville Police Department
  • St. John Police Department
  • Valparaiso Police Department
  • Whiting Police Department

Major Crimes would soon expand and the following agencies would join the task force:

  • Chesterton Police Department
  • Lake Station Police Department
  • Indiana University Police Department
  • Portage Police Department
  • Porter County Sheriff’s Department
  • Porter Police Department
  • ATF
  • FBI
  • Indiana State Police
  • HIDTA

Past Northwest Indiana Major Crimes Task Force Commanders:

  • Commander Leo Finnerty, Hobart Police Department
  • Commander Ken Croft, Dyer Police Department
  • Commander Jeff Snemis, Merrillville Police Department
  • Commander Greg Mance, Griffith Police Department