A management board is likely to soon be revived for Chesterton and Porter’s joint police dispatch operation.
The Porter Town Council Tuesday gave a first reading to an ordinance that re-establishes the ground rules for the board.
Porter Town Council President Laura Madigan, D-Ward 1, explained that the board was formed when the two towns started their dispatching operation in 2014. The two towns had chosen then to set up their own dispatch center and not join the county’s 911 system.
However, Madigan said to her knowledge, the board had never met.
That situation changed after the June 18 shootout in front of the Hilton Garden Inn that involved two Chesterton Police officers.
“There is a reason for the dispatch board to meet with our respective police chiefs to review a debriefing after the state’s investigation,” Madigan said.
Porter County Prosecutor Gary Germann on Monday, after reviewing the Indiana State Police report, ruled that the two officers were justified in defending themselves as Joseph Gerber, 45, fired first. Chesterton Police Officer Nolan Mancera was wounded while Gerber, who was hit several times, died after he turned his gun upon himself, the investigation found.
Questions were raised about the performance of Chesterton and Porter’s joint dispatch center.
Porter County Commissioner Jim Biggs, on the morning of the June 18 shootout, suggested that it was time for Chesterton and Porter Police Dispatch to consider joining the Porter County E-911 system.
Biggs and E-911 Director Debby Gunn later told The Post-Tribune that with the current system, it took nearly 5 minutes for the Chesterton/Porter Police dispatch call for the ambulance.
Chesterton and Porter disputed that conclusion, saying the delay was due to an E-911 dispatcher putting the Chesterton/Porter Police dispatcher on hold while answering another call. As it turned out, another E-911 dispatcher had heard the radio traffic about the shooting and immediately dispatched an ambulance.
The Chesterton and Porter Town Councils have issued statements, calling for Gunn to be fired.
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So, there is a need for more discussion on the dispatch center going forward.
Madigan said it was discovered that Porter’s ordinance differed from Chesterton’s concerning the dispatch management board. She said the new ordinance addresses that.
There are six members of the dispatch board, which includes the police chiefs, assistant chiefs and council presidents from both communities.
Councilman James Burge, I-Ward 4, noted that with six board members, there is a possibility of a tie vote. He said that something should be spelled out to handle that situation, if it arises.
Madigan said she would talk to Chesterton Town Council President Sharon Darnell, D-Dist. 4, about that issue.
In other business, the Porter Town Council approved an agreement with the State Park Little League that would allow them to refurbish the ballfield at the Porter Cove subdivision.
The ballfield currently isn’t being used. Eric Gillhouse, president of the State Park Little League, said they would like to be able to use it for their league’s T-ball games.
Parks Department Director Brian Bugajski said that the State Park Little League has done an “amazing” job in refurbishing the diamond at Hawthorne Park. Other council members agreed.
Gillhouse said the Hawthorne Park field has been used for 40 games this year and a number of practices. He thanked the Porter Police for how they provided support for the recent state tournament for 8 to 10-year-olds, hosted at the State Park Little League complex off Woodlawn Avenue.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.