The Citizens Police Academy is a 12-week series of classes held by the Marion Police Department on Wednesday nights at the Marion City Hall, teaching participants about recognizing counterfeit money, handling crime scenes, narcotics investigations and firearms.

On March 28, the class learned how to investigate a death crime scene, including the collection of witness testimony and key evidence. Lt. Stephen Dorsey with the MPD was the class instructor.

Dorsey explained the evening’s class would have the students solving a mock murder case in groups. He then went into talking about evidence and its importance in solving a case before distributing a paper with the “Three ‘Rules’ police must have to obtain a conviction.”

As Dorsey went through the handout, the class of 30 jumped as the crack of gunshots came from an adjoining room behind the class room moments before an individual ran through the classroom and out the front door.

“What did you see and hear?” asked Dorsey, immediately demonstrating what he had just taught the class about interviewing witnesses.

Three students gave their testimonies, telling Dorsey the number of shots they heard and describing the individual’s apparel and stature.

“How many shots were fired?” asked Dorsey. Answers ranged from three to five. Six shots were fired.

Dorsey then explained that the claims of witnesses aren’t as reliable as evidence. He also said men and women tend to identify a situation differently, noting that men more often describe colors in general terms like “blue,” while women are more likely to name a more specific color, like “teal.”

After a short break, students divided into three groups to investigate a mock murder scene. A written murder scenario established the scene of the crime in detail, and students were told to note items as potential evidence.

A victim lay on the floor with a gunshot wound. Blood was on a computer chair and on the wall. In the wall was a bullet hole. A gun sat on the desk, with another on the floor next to a toppled chair. There was a large bottle of Bud Light on the desk and a pair of women’s undergarments lay on the floor next to an overturned trash can. A wallet dangled on the edge of the desk.

Students were then allowed to choose one item to analyze more closely. After that, they were escorted out and were to work as a group to figure out the reasons for the crime. The groups weighed each piece of evidence, along with the scenario they were provided to ultimately solve the case.

The CPA program shows students what police face by providing demonstrations and examples of their line of work. Just one class can show a lot about the work of these everyday heroes.

Governor Mitch Daniels signed Indiana’s first statewide anti-smoking legislation March 20 at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. Local business owners have until July to comply.

The ban prohibits smoking in most public places, including restaurants. Exemptions include casinos, bars, cigar shops and private clubs. The exceptions were added in an act of compromise between different interest groups, including avid smokers, businesses and health-conscious publics, according to the Indy Star.

Daniels told the Indianapolis Star the law is “a huge step forward,” even though it is not an outright ban on public smoking. “I personally think when you can get 90-plus percent of an important goal, it’s better than zero,” he said.

Critics argue that the law has too many loopholes. The American Cancer Society, which originally lobbied for the law, discontinued its support for the proposal after lawmakers exempted bars and taverns from the ban.

“I’m glad we got exempt,” said Bart Clevenger, owner of 31 Club in Marion, who said about 70 percent of his clientele smokes inside his establishment.

“If they banned it, I would probably have to close my doors,” said Clevenger.

Lori Thien, manager of Marion’s Southside Diner, is fearful that the new smoking restrictions will drive away the “99 percent” of her customers she says smoke inside the restaurant.

“It’s gonna hit me really hard here,” added Thien. “I already have customers that told me that they’re not coming back if [the law] goes through.”

“I have a couple that said that they drove all the way here from Kokomo,” said Thien. “And the only reason that they come here is ‘cause it’s the only place that they know where they can smoke.”

Clevenger said he witnesses similar behavior at 31 Club.

“There’s a lot of people that don’t even smoke in their houses or house,” said Clevenger. “They come here.”

There are many who, like Thien, are critical of the law for an alleged rights violation.

“When did it become a state or federal right to tell us what to do in our own buildings?” asked Thien. “And what happened to the smokers’ rights? Last I checked, we were taxpayers too.”

“I think he’s put his nose into too many places recently,” said Thien of Governor Daniels. “Every day, they find a new way to take away our rights. Are we going communist, or what?”

But the health-conscious public argues that the law upholds citizens’ rights. Karen Aaron, director of the Indiana Wesleyan University health center, upholds this view.

“I feel like I have a right to be healthy as much as the other has the right to smoke,” said Aaron. She cited health-related reasons for her point of view:

“When I’m sitting at a table [at a restaurant],” said Aaron, “and three tables over in the smoking section they’re allowed to smoke, I’m still getting those fumes from the smoke.”

Aaron argues that the law may not harm business – mainly restaurants – as many anticipate it will.

“I did talk to somebody recently who lived in an area where they did make that ban and those establishments felt that it was really going to affect it, and turned out it really didn’t,” Aaron said.

Instead, Aaron argued that the ban may actually increase foot traffic for businesses.

“People adapted,” said Aaron of the smoking customers. “They went outside to smoke and came back in. And for some restaurants that were heavily smoke-filled, they actually increased their business because those folks came back that wouldn’t have been there because of the smoking.”

The law gives restaurants and other businesses until July 1 to make necessary changes and become smoke-free.

“It might be the end of it for me,” said Thien, “but who knows. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Grant County’s Joint Effort Against Narcotics Team confiscated a load of illegal narcotics valued at $85,000 from three local gas stations March 16.

The JEAN Team began the investigation process Thursday, March 15, and wrapped up Friday night with three search warrants, according to Marion’s Chronicle-Tribune. The synthetic drugs, which go by the street names Bath Salts and K2, were seized from the BP at the intersection of South Western Avenue and South Washington St., the Citgo on the corner of North Washington Street and Highland Avenue, and the Marathon gas station in the neighboring town of Sweetser.

The Marion Police Department, Grant County Sheriff’s Department and the Grant County Prosecutor’s Office formed the JEAN Team in 1989 in response to cocaine’s growing popularity.

Detective Shawn Sizemore, one of the JEAN Team’s nine members, said the unit targets all illegal narcotics, but members have seen a growth in cases involving prescription and synthetic drugs. The drugs are easily accessible because they’re being sold online and in convenience stores, according to an educational report made by the JEAN Team.

“This drug is very popular among college students because they don’t test positive on drug tests,” said Sizemore.

The most recent drug-related incident on Indiana Wesleyan University campus involved two Bowman House residents found in possession of marijuana last semester. Sizemore said the team is grateful that drug-related issues at IWU and Taylor University have never been so big that they needed any outside help from the unit.

Amelya Howkinson (sr) studies intercultural studies and Biblical literature at IWU. She said she wasn’t shocked last semester when she heard of illegal drug use on campus by fellow IWU students.

“It wasn’t a surprise because I’ve heard of people who do those things in the dorms. It’s just that this time someone got caught,” said Howkinson.

Detective Sergeant Mark Stefanatos, who currently leads JEAN Team, said a key component to issues surrounding illegal drug use is community awareness.

“I would just say that people have to remember that drugs don’t care about race or money,” Stefanatos said. “They don’t discriminate. They’re right here in our community. People have to realize that if they think there’s no type of drug problem in any area, then you have a problem. Drugs are everywhere. It can be as simple as one person’s bad decision in one minute.”

Three Indiana Wesleyan University faculty members are spending time in prison this week.

Dr. Brad Garner, assistant dean for teaching and learning at IWU; Keith Brakel, director of conference services; and Jack Brady, assistant professor of criminal justice, all teach a weekly class at the Miami Correctional Facility.

The students in the class are all offenders taking part in the Purposeful Living Units Serve program. The PLUS program is used in 15 different Indiana facilities as “a faith and character-based re-entry initiative,” offering “participants alternatives for rehabilitation,” according to the Indiana state government website.

At the Miami Correctional Facility, participants receive a time reduction to their sentences.

Garner started ministering at the prison about six years ago and is currently teaching two PLUS classes: “Houses of Healing” and “The Purpose Driven Life.” “Houses of Healing” is the first prerequisite class that the offenders in the program are required to take before moving on to the other classes.

“The guys I have in class right now, this is the first class they’ve taken,” Garner said. “If I compare them with, example, guys in ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ class, you can see a significant difference in their ability to talk about emotions, share things and effectively work in a group.” He also he has noticed a great difference in maturity as the men continue with the classes.

Students have also tagged along with Garner to the prison for their classes. Dr. Petros Malakyan took his short-term mission leadership class on Saturday, March 24, when the topics discussed were relationships and effective communication. Garner gave information at the beginning of the class and then the attendees broke into groups for discussion.

“The most amazing thing about last Saturday was how different the room felt with these guys,” Garner said, noting a sense of calm and engagement. “They love having the students come over and have conversation with them.”

“The students were appropriately a little nervous about going in. It’s a brand new environment – it’s a prison,” said Garner. “You don’t know what to expect but I saw them adapt to the situation very quickly.”

Brakel has been involved with the prison ministry for about three-and-a-half years. Brakel facilitates The Bridges to Life Program every Tuesday, which is a faith-based initiative that helps offenders see things from a victim’s point of view.

“What is ultimately neat about this program is because we watch offenders come in really having no concept of the effect of the crime they have not only on the victim but on the family and so forth,” Brakel said. “They are beginning to understand that crime has many victims and eventually that realization leads to repentance.”

Aside from Malakyan’s class, other students from IWU volunteer in the prison ministry as well. Wil Allison (sr) and James Cashman (sr) attend with Brakel every Tuesday. Cashman actually received the opportunity to teach a class when Brakel was out of town and unable to attend.

“Speaking with James, he was feeling really blessed God used him last week,” Brakel said. “It’s really neat to see a college student have the confidence to minister to these men.”

The students and faculty believe the prison to be its own mission field and that Christians are called to love the offenders as well. Brady, who used to be a jail chaplain and currently teaches “Please Understand Me,” believes that if people go to the prisons simply to visit the offenders, it will be positive for both the offenders and their guests.

“We want to help offenders understand what was going on that what led them to what happened in their life, heal from past hurts, help them take responsibility for their actions and hopefully be a light for Christ,” Brady said. “If you get that, there will be a zero percent of crime; you don’t have to worry about that anymore. Don’t make them feel like they’re worthless or bad people. I want them to know that between the devil and circumstances.”

If you wish to join this prison ministry, contact Dr. Brad Garner, Keith Brakel or Jack Brady.