Bureau of Identification
Bureau Of Identification Office (B of I) is the keeper of the records for the Lake County Sheriff's Department. The Bureau Of Identification Office (B of I) maintains all criminal records, gun permits, accident reports, offense reports, tow releases and registers sex and violent offenders.
Office hours: Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) 8:30am to 4:30pm
Phone numbers:
B of I: (219) 755-3316
Fax Number: (219) 755-3323
Accident Reports: $15.00 Cash or Money Order. (please allow up 72 hours for report to be completed)
Offense Report: $4.00 Cash or Money Order.
Record Checks: $7.00 Cash or Money Order. Individual seeking a record check on themselves must have a valid drivers license or state identification card. Record checks are available Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) 8:30am to 3:30pm.
Mailed In Requests: All local record requests must be accompanied by a copy of a valid drivers license or state identification card, copy of social security card and a notarized, signed release form from the individual named in the record check request. All requests must be typed. There is a $7.00 fee per record request. Personal checks will NOT be accepted. Money orders or company checks only payable to the the Lake County Sheriff. **Include a self-addressed stamped envelope**
Mail all requests to:
Bureau of Identification Lake County Sheriff's Department
2293 N Main Street
Crown Point, Indiana 46307
Vehicle Tow Release: Vehicles towed by the Lake County Sheriff's Department must be released to the registered owner.
What you need for a vehicle release:
1. You MUST be the registered owner in order to get YOUR vehicle released.
2. A VALID driver's license OR a State I.D.
3. A CURRENT registration OR title with YOUR name on the front (NO OPEN TITLES).
4. $75.00 CASH or MONEY ORDER
Gun Permit: Five Year Personal Protection and Lifetime Personal Protection permits are both FREE for those in unincorprated Lake County. Handgun permits may be applied for: Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) 8:30am to 4:00pm **The Lake County Sheriff's Dept. only provides gun permits to people living in unincorporated Lake County, including parts of Gary and Griffith that are located in Calumet Township. If a city/town police department answers any emergency calls in your neighborhood then you must go to that police department to obtain an application**
Click here for online gun permit application
**Fingerprints are no longer taken onsite. Please contact below for more info**
L1 Solutions
6166 Harrison St.
Merrillville, IN 46410
1-877-472-6917
Sex and Violent Offender Registration: NOTICE: Sex Offender and Violent Offender Fees (updated 2/12/10)
Pursuant to Lake County Ordinance 1292-B and Indiana Code 36-2-13-5.6
All Persons required to register as a Sex Offender or Violent Offender with the Lake County Sheriff's Department shall be responsible for and pay the following fees:
1. Annual Registration Fee: $50.00 per calendar year
2. Each Address Change: $5.00 per occurrence
Registration hours: Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) 8:30am to 4:00pm
Registration location:
Lake County Sheriff's Department Bureau Of Identification Office
2293 North Main Street – Building J-2
Crown Point, Indiana 46307
Phone Number: (219) 755-3321
All sex or violent offenders must register in person within 72 hours of arriving in Lake County, Indiana. (This includes: residence, vehicles, employment and/or education.
New Registrants hours are Monday Through Friday (excluding Holidays) 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Property Management
The Property / Evidence Management Division is staffed Monday through Friday (excluding holidays), 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. This Division oversees the property inventory for the Lake County Sheriff’s Department. This Division also controls the property that is evidence, either recovered or confiscated. Persons wanting to claim property belonging to them must have proof of ownership and a photo ID.
Training
Police Training
Training of the Lake County Police Officer. begins with a 40 hour pre-basic class that is conducted by the Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Training Academy (N.I.L.E.T.A.). They provide a basic overview of the police mission. The new officers receive instruction in crime suppression, crime repression and providing emergency services.
In following the student officer from pre-basic back to the department, he or she will receive an additional 40 hrs. of hands-on basic firearms training. This training is held in the Lake County range and all students are required to pass both a written test and qualify on both the state and department qualification courses of fire. After these requirements are met, the student will be issued their weapon and released to the ride along program or ordered directly to the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (I.L.E.A.) for 17 weeks of intense basic training.
After returning from the Academy the officer will enter a field-training program that will last for approximately 3 months. During this time the officer will be watched, coached, evaluated and finally released to work the street alone. Additional advanced training (in-service) will be provided to the officer annually on a 16-hour minimal basis. This training to be provided through the 22 in house instructors on the department assisted by classes at (N.I.T.L.E.A., I.L.E.A.) and the (L.E.T.N) Law Enforcement Training Network.
Firearms Training
All police officers and those corrections officers who are authorized to carry weapons are required to qualify with their assigned weapons quarterly. Periodically there are opportunities to use the range for familiarization.
Police officers assigned to the Tactical Unit are required to qualify with their weapons six times a year. Their weapons include their duty sidearm, shotgun and other assorted specialty weapons.
Police snipers qualify monthly with their rifles and must re-certify every two years through a program conducted by the FBI and the Indianapolis Police Department.
