Three more Republican State Senators — including another senator from Northwest Indiana — confirmed swatting calls Thursday, just days after the Senate voted to effectively end the chances of mid-census redistricting in Indiana.
State Senator Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, said he received a call from his wife Wednesday stating that police officers arrived at their home after someone made “a crank call to the police.”
Niemeyer said he talked to the police officers and cleared up the situation. While Niemeyer said he doesn’t know why the fake police call was made, he said he’s not worried about it because “it doesn’t take much,” to make that kind of call.
“I can assume it’s something they don’t like that I’m doing,” Niemeyer said. “It’s kind of a pattern.”
State Sen. Spencer Deery, R-West Lafayette, said in a statement that at 8 a.m. Thursday police received a report of domestic abuse at his house “and that there would be a threat of violence to any officers who responded.”
Deery said he appreciated the West Lafayette Police Department for recognizing the call as a fake swatting attempt “that could be resolved without putting my children, or other children on our street who were preparing to board school buses, in a dangerous and stressful situation.” Deery said his family received an unpaid pizza delivery Wednesday night as well.
“It is disturbing that anyone would attempt to harm or intimidate lawmakers, but sadly not all that surprising in the current environment,” Deery said. “We will continue to do our duty and to do what is in the best interest of our district, no matter the threats.”
State Sen. Kyle Walker, R-Lawrence, said “attempts have been made to intimidate me and threaten violence” at his home. Walker said he appreciated local and state law enforcement officials “for their ongoing efforts to keep us safe.”
“All state leaders should send the strongest message possible that not only are these violent threats and intimidation tactics against the law, they are also counter-effective,” Walker said.
Indiana State Police are investigating “multiple” cases of swatting against members of the Indiana General Assembly, according to a press release. Swatting is when a person “with ill intention” notifies police of a fake emergency at a specific location with the goal of generating a large scale law enforcement response.
“The Indiana State Police warn that not only is this potentially dangerous to all involved, but it is also against the law,” according to the release. “Our goal is to seek criminal prosecution against those involved, to the fullest extent allowed by law.”
State Sen. Daniel Dernulc, R-Highland, received a false swatting call Wednesday. Dernulc said he received a call from the Highland Police Department Police Chief that a call came in about a domestic incident at his house.
“It is scary and shocking to me that someone would go so far to try to cause harm or fear to me or my family,” Dernulc said in a statement. “It is sad … that I am villainized in some minds to the point of harmful retaliation. Threats to public officials cannot and should not be the norm. I hope to see justice for this illegal behavior.”
An hour after the police chief called him about the false police report, Dernulc told the Post-Tribune that he received a delivery of pizza where his statehouse number was used to place the order, he said.
These incidents directly stem from the Senate’s decision not to move forward with mid-census redistricting, Dernulc said. He reiterated that he hasn’t stated his position on redistricting publicly, and that he has been listening to both sides of the argument.
“I’m being vilified for a position I haven’t even taken,” Dernulc said. “That is not good for our country and our state.”
President Donald Trump wrote a Truth Social post Sunday attacking members of the Indiana Senate for not advancing mid-census redistricting efforts, including Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, and Senator Greg Goode, R-Terre Haute.
Goode and his family were victims of a swatting incident Sunday night after a fake communication was sent to local police, according to a statement from the senator’s office.
Vigo County sheriff’s deputies responded to the house “under the impression of a domestic violence emergency,” according to the statement.
“While this entire incident is unfortunate and reflective of the volatile nature of our current political environment, I give thanks to God that my family and I are ok,” Goode said in a statement.
More Top Picks Beauty And Personal Care
State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Gov. Mike Braun told reporters Thursday that fake swat calls against state legislators is “unacceptable,” according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle.
“That’s way beyond the pale,” Braun said. “All I’m saying as governor, leader of the state: stop it.”
On Tuesday, Braun issued a statement that he’d find ways to “compel” senators to honor his call for a special session.
Asked if he thought aggressive rhetoric had contributed, Braun responded that there’s “rhetoric on a lot of issues.” He said it “boils down to personal responsibility not to do something stupid,” according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle.
A spokeswoman for Bray said Wednesday he condemns swatting and “has been clear that it has no place in our society.” Bray hasn’t received a swatting call, said Molly Swigart, a spokeswoman for Bray. Senate Republican leadership does not believe that all Republican senators have received swatting threats, she said.
“I unequivocally condemn swatting and all acts of intimidation toward not only my caucus members, but all Hoosiers. Swatting is illegal and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Bray said in the statement.
State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton, said the “really terrifying tactics that are being used” against his fellow Senators have been difficult to learn about.
“I’ve never seen anything like this in Indiana politics,” Pol said. “I feel for my colleagues.”
Pol, who hasn’t received a swatting call, said the call tactic is a “harsh wake-up call” to the current state of the political climate.
“The rhetoric needs to be turned down and we have to get back to focusing on politics,” Pol said.
Pol said he hopes police officials find whoever is making the calls as soon as possible.
The Senate had been a hurdle for Indiana’s redistricting efforts after a spokeswoman for Bray told reporters last month that the Senate did not have the votes to pass new Congressional maps.
Braun called for a special legislative session to “consider altering the boundaries of Indiana’s congressional districts” and federal and state tax compliance beginning Nov. 3, according to a news release.
Indiana House and Senate leadership announced Nov. 3 the legislature will address “time sensitive issues” — including redistricting and taxes — during the first two weeks of December. That decision seemingly canceled the special session as the legislators would be meeting during the 2026 legislative session.
The Indiana Senate announced Friday it canceled a two-week session to discuss mid-census redistricting because of a lack of votes.
“Over the last several months, Senate Republicans have given very serious and thoughtful consideration to the concept of redrawing our state’s congressional maps. Today, I’m announcing there are not enough votes to move that idea forward, and the Senate will not reconvene in December,” Bray said in a statement Friday.
During Organization Day on Tuesday, the Senate voted to adjourn until Jan. 5, 2025, effectively canceling the possibility of meeting in December to discuss redistricting.
The House adjourned until Jan. 5, 2026, but House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, told the representatives to keep the first two weeks of December open as they may be called back.