Town of Griffith, Indiana Home Page

Karl Grimmer is retiring after a 29 year career with the Griffith Police Department, including serving as Chief of Police for the past thirteen years. Griffith Police Lieutenant and Executive Officer Ron Kottka became the new Police Chief effective Monday, June 26. Click HERE for the article "Griffith police chief to retire" at the Times newspaper website, and HERE for the article "Griffith names new police chief" at the Times newspaper website.	Class reunions are planned for the 1956, 1976, 1981, 1986 and 1996 GHS graduating classes. For more info, click on the Calendar of Events and the Griffith High School Alumni and Reunion website links in the menu below.
The annual July 4th/Independence Day Parade down Broad Street begins at 10:00 a.m and the theme is "America the Beautiful". The parade is sponsored by the Griffith Special Events Committee (GSEC). For groups or organizations that wish to participate in the parade, you can pick up an application at the Town Hall, Clerk-Treasurer's office. Or click HERE to download the info and application form in Adobe Acrobat pdf format.	The Clerk-Treasurer's office, Public Works and the Police Department Records office will be closed on Tuesday, July 4.
The Griffith Fire Department is proud to present Get Alarmed Griffith! According to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), 52% of residential fire fatalities occur in homes without smoke detectors. According to the USFA (United States Fire Administration), carbon monoxide poisoning claims more than 500 lives each year and sends another 15,000 to hospital emergency rooms for treatment. If you are a Town of Griffith resident and do not own a smoke detector or a carbon monoxide detector or your detectors are more than 10 years old, it's time to Get Alarmed. Contact Fire Prevention Coordinator Lt. Don Hill at 838-3309 or email at fireprevention@sbcglobal.net for details about how you can receive your free smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector and Get Alarmed Griffith! This program is courtesy of the Griffith Fire Department with funding through FEMA.
Real estate/property tax records are available online at the Lake County Assessor's Real Estate Information website. Go to the following website and login by clicking on the "Guest Access" button in the upper left corner of the webpage: http://in-lake-assessor.governmaxa.com/ The State of Indiana has set up a website on the avian (bird flu) influenza and pandemic influenza: http://www.in.gov/dhs/fluinfo/ The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is assembling a database of hurricane damaged vehicles and watercraft which is searchable by VIN number: http://www.nicb.org/
Military vets should monitor their financial info as there was a theft of about 27 million veteran records from the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in May, 2006. Details and info at: http://www.firstgov.gov/veteransinfo.shtml Another identity theft scam is occurring - this involves a telephone call about why you didn't report for jury duty, and asking for your Social Security and other personal/financial info. More at: http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel05/092805.htm and http://www.uscourts.gov/Press_Releases/juryfraud81805.html Another alert has been issued by the Internal Revenue Service about Internet scams in which consumers receive an e-mail from the IRS informing them of a tax refund, or are requested to link to the IRS website to report withholding information. The e-mails and website appears to be the IRS. However, these are "phishing" schemes to obtain your personal info for fraud and identity theft. Info at: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=154848,00.html and http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=154861,00.html and http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=151065,00.html. More info on this and other Internet scams is at: http://www.ic3.gov/media/

The Emergency Management, Fire and Building Services, and Public Safety Training Foundation was created by the Indiana General Assembly as a legal entity into which the state will deposit monies collected from the sale of the Hoosier Safety license plate. This not-for-profit foundation is one of the first of its kind in the country. Money raised by the Foundation will be divided into: 22.5% for emergency management; 22.5% for fire services; 22.5% for building services; 22.5% for emergency medical; and 10% in a stewardship fund to promote the sale of the license plate. By purchasing the Hoosier Safety license plate, you can help protect your loved ones, your neighbors and yourself while declaring your dedication to Hoosier Safety. Funds will be used for programs such as: preschool Fire Safety, the SAFE KIDS Coalition, the Hoosier Burn Camp, as well as equipment and training needs. The Town of Griffith Fire Department and Emergency Management Agency (EMA) may receive funds from the Foundation through application and grants. The Hoosier Safety license plate is $40 (in addition to your normal vehicle registration and excise fees). Click HERE for more info at the State of Indiana website.