Chief's Message:
The Michigan City Police Department faces many challenges. The department is tasked with providing quality services to the community. Michigan City PD has implemented strategies to address the 3.9% rise in crime in 2005 and experienced a decrease in crime in 2006 of over 3%. Violent crimes seems to be on the increase the past two years in the mid-west and nationally and those studying the trend nationally have many different theories.. The Michigan City Police Department has instituted the SARA model of policing in 2007. SARA is an acronym meaning Scanning, Analysis, Response, and Assessment. Officers and shift Commanders are asked to constantly scan and identify problems in the community and then analyze the problem and develop a response and apply the response, and later asses the response as to its effectiveness and change if necessary rather than constantly reacting to the same problems over and over.

The Michigan City Police Department is also aggressively seeking Police Candidates in its hiring process. Due to legislation it has been attractive for senior Officers to look at retirement. In 2007 MCPD will lose 7 Officers to retirement. We are currently trying to hire in advance to be proactive so the agency and City doesn’t suffer.

The Michigan City Police Department will be committed to a stronger uniformed officer presence on the streets. The department will be committed to public service and a strong liaison with the community. Crime reduction can be accomplished through proactive law enforcement effort utilizing the eyes and ears of its citizens. With a cooperative effort, we can enjoy Michigan City as a safe place to live, and a wonderful place to raise our families.

Click here to read Chief Neitzel's biography.

Chief Mark Swistek is a 15 year veteran of the Police Department and currently oversees the uniform patrol division which is the largest division in the Michigan City Police Department and is the first point of contact with the public. On February 10th 1992 Chief Swistek was appointed as a sworn officer of the Police Department. He is a graduate of the 109th academy class of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy where he had graduated as a honor student. Upon completion of the academy he has served in the uniform patrol division as a patrolman, Special Operations Group, The Detective Bureau as a investigator/supervisor, and from 1999 through July of 2004 he had served as the Commander of the Narcotics Task Force where as Chief Swistek was a Task Force Officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration(DEA). As Chief of Operations Chief Swistek has asked that all of the uniform patrol officers take on an active role in Community Policing within our community. Weekly Chief Swistek spends numerous hours working various shifts to ensure the community is being served in a manner that actively assist with the needs of every citizen. He is actively involved in the Day to Day Operations of the department and it's essential services.

Chief Kintzele is a 25 year veteran of the Michigan City Police Department graduating from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy September 1982. He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps serving from August 1977 through October 1981 separating service as a Communication Chief at the rank of Sergeant with two tours of duty in Okinawa Japan.

Chief Kintzele has served in the Uniformed Division as a Patrol Officer, Patrol Supervisor, Community Policing Officer, SWAT Team Squad Leader, and SCUBA Team member. Assignments to the Investigative Division include Detective, LaPorte County Homicide Team, and Arson Investigation Team. He has also served as the Department Training Coordinator, and Public Relations Officer.

Chief Kintzele is a graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Leadership and Supervision, and an Associates of Science in Industrial Engineering. He is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute Homicide Investigators course, and has completed extensive training in criminal profiling, and interview / interrogation, defensive tactics, and use of force.

Duties as Chief of Services include overseeing the operations of the Investigative Division, Division of Professional Standards, Records, Information Technology, Civilian employees, and annual operating budget.