[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6152310,"mediaKeyId","5498918-7f3cf2e1bbb90b6dfcec5a1f9cb0f7f1","parentId",5498918,"title","Elkhart police report hiring gains, training and mental‑health resources after large shooting response; National Night Out set for Aug. 5","audioSeconds",1371,"startMs",2049000,"endMs",3420000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5498918-7f3cf2e1bbb90b6dfcec5a1f9cb0f7f1&start=2049&end=3420","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5498918-7f3cf2e1bbb90b6dfcec5a1f9cb0f7f1/thumbnail_2049000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6152310/Elkhart-City/Elkhart-County/Indiana/Elkhart-police-report-hiring-gains-training-and-mentalhealth-resources-after-large-shooting-response-National-Night-Out-set-for-Aug-5","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6152310-8453f870a4953933c7454a6609b0648d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201119&Signature=LqRJjJuK5qGX7LOigcbC4~KCWB-y-HP9seWUNrkrF-k7idVQVoVmwizpKEXDw-mMrsZCyvUYhHvy1n9Ujxf-aVI4~KPn5tms3AHMH-8w29kGCPMH0qCDPIt-u9ZmKHiMwzN46Nf4l--4-hfyIRUsSlZr6Azh7cOm3kq4XlZic4-bND~r2WQB-8qxRoqq2cp-FckFXGTo8N7-MVV0ZdwJoEbcMAgCiRH4jKZGK08ocyQiWG-SCA137xmNDRt~wsp~dfoLTTJZYEmtU5tpAlUFwNfmj9W2p065gyXek67JSH-NwD5Z2DsYjo~70wL-~RktN6oG9o57toUyvhghs4Zm4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Elkhart City, IN","date","2025-07-29T15:15:42Z","article","Chief Dan Melanes told commissioners the department has issued nine conditional offers and that ongoing hiring and lateral recruitment have reduced the number of open positions. “We have… given 9 conditional offers, which in theory, technically puts us down to only having 14 openings,” the chief said, adding five of the conditional offers are laterals and that roughly four of those laterals will start soon. The chief said the department hopes to swear in some new officers “on the 28th of this month” and that additional small groups of hires will follow every two weeks.

The chief briefed commissioners on recruiting and training steps the department is using to improve readiness. He described an applicant “information night” and recurring training that includes scenario‑based de‑escalation exercises, repeated classroom and field training, and built‑in scenario days for trainees before they go on patrol. “All of our officers go through de‑escalation scenario based training,” he said. The department also runs volunteer workout nights to help applicants prepare for academy physical testing.

Melanes summarized the department response to a recent large shooting, praising younger officers’ performance in a chaotic scene where, he said, “we had at least 12 people injured” and officers with about a year on the job performed life‑saving measures amid a crowd of “several 100 people.” He credited the training division, field training officers and supervisors for preparing officers for those incidents and said the department received outside praise for a separate call involving an individual in mental‑health crisis.

Commissioners and the chief stressed mental‑health resources for officers and the public. The chief described department supports including a chaplain program, social workers, a peer‑support group and an employee assistance program, and said discipline is typically paired with corrective measures such as supervisor counseling or referrals to counseling programs. “Discipline should not just be for punishment; it should be for corrective action,” the chief said.

The chief also promoted National Night Out at Central Green across from the police department, scheduled in meeting remarks for Aug. 5, and described community engagement activities planned for the event, including equipment displays, demonstrations, children’s activities and community resource partners.

No new policy changes or external funding allocations were proposed at the meeting; commissioners encouraged continued public outreach and praised the department’s community engagement efforts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Elkhart Police Merit Commission 7 14 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Elkhart Police Department reported hiring gains, reinforced scenario‑based training, and ongoing mental‑health supports after a mass‑casualty response; the department also announced National Night Out on Aug. 5 at Central Green.","taxTitle","Elkhart City, Elkhart County, Indiana","taxId",5802,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6152315,"Five patrol officers move from third‑ to second‑class after first year, commission notified",125,1920000,2045000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5498918-7f3cf2e1bbb90b6dfcec5a1f9cb0f7f1&start=1920&end=2045","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5498918-7f3cf2e1bbb90b6dfcec5a1f9cb0f7f1/thumbnail_1920000.jpg","/articles/6152315/Elkhart-City/Elkhart-County/Indiana/Five-patrol-officers-move-from-third-to-secondclass-after-first-year-commission-notified","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6152315-355d72748268980d7214357d4bf36a8e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201119&Signature=W99TC9eP3jy-vE~W13D-9c6UrTCBhr-eJLvxAnrNK~dREslBlnepdxXueCVkkzd5xtHa46u7haGaeJ7HY2q6q37TVDrzEBe4WrJqxD2hQI~qI9eL55PV6NarqfjSG9abWXrt6~1Mg7rbCqjzt6rRQw2g-lErTmV58-o5iwR15H8FLpH1jvPeN89u9ozdU8qf6AEI3czcmIXqIG3nskcoRZn5EPMC0dWb~sVsAg6wp6V1cpCcf-WHDcZT-bRb9cg5ps~gpU5wYiLyMY~bXo8YPMWBrlCx8CVbQrd5-YtecV7lI5q4aqkezMN~QKfgNfkhJ519z~vnQvfwhh3aODwvlA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Dan Melanes notified commissioners that several patrol officers will advance in class and pay grade after completing their first year of service. The list included Patrolman Llewellyn, Volani Raymond, Heredia, Allen, and Josh Gorbel; the moves were presented as notifications rather than commission actions.

The chief described the change as a standard personnel progression from third class to second class after first‑year completion. The commission’s president accepted the notifications during the meeting; no roll call vote was required. The chief said these status changes are standard operations tied to service milestones and pay‑grade movement.

The chief clarified there are two officers with the last name Gorbel; commissioners asked about any relationship between them and the chief said one is the nephew of the other. Commissioners thanked the department and noted the rapid pace of personnel movements as hiring and retention continue.

No formal disciplinary or promotional hearing was requested or held during the meeting; the items were presented to commissioners as notifications for their records.","The police chief informed the Elkhart Police Merit Commission that five patrol officers will move from third class to second class after completing their first year; the commission accepted the notifications as presented.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":79,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6152320,"Elkhart commission approves 30‑day unpaid suspension for Corporal Jeffrey Gorbel; chief issues reprimand for detective",179,1741000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5498918-7f3cf2e1bbb90b6dfcec5a1f9cb0f7f1&start=1741&end=1920","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5498918-7f3cf2e1bbb90b6dfcec5a1f9cb0f7f1/thumbnail_1741000.jpg","/articles/6152320/Elkhart-City/Elkhart-County/Indiana/Elkhart-commission-approves-30day-unpaid-suspension-for-Corporal-Jeffrey-Gorbel-chief-issues-reprimand-for-detective","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6152320-8f2d0eb82740577a186c1171b79fd349/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201119&Signature=JNjvwxFI1p4pU7OZxZpLbsfh7LgxjvJBaJGxuM0PzRNm34VJEBT6xBIE7SYEZZiKlJxPX4IXSxf250vTGNJr55ziJgGvKGPWQ3OkcWctwVMOIU8pkrTltS1MiMg1hkknJXaTQrFXUZLZvsLu4-DJcR4pNkGfR6QsSy2VbfUijkOieflKzIpcdutzwkMULmOInTOgW3uGpxARxh6fl2T4z4QKY2kwuIuv0pVRI3hsSCpN7HNDGqzlm1rLzZr2VBrTlU~SPEWEPb7a2GH-pnAZcFCHXzHFdy1tegNxh~trR68yeRDTATSTwBjzfGXTuIo5oNnQquGFJ8xm9xTgFcsSFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a meeting of the Elkhart Police Merit Commission, commissioners approved a 30‑day unpaid suspension for Corporal Jeffrey Gorbel and accepted a departmental reprimand for Detective Scott Hauser. The actions were presented by Chief Dan Melanes.

Chief Dan Melanes told the commission he requested a 30‑day suspension without pay for Corporal Jeffrey Gorbel for conduct arising from a February 20 call for service. “I have requested a 30 day suspension, without pay for corporal Jeff Gorbel,” the chief said. The chief said Gorbel had been notified and had not requested a hearing; the commission voted to approve the request by roll call, 5–0 (Jean Mays — yes; Thomas Barber — yes; Clifton Hildreth — yes; Brad Billings — yes; Jim Rickoff — yes).

Separately, Melanes said he had issued a letter of reprimand to Detective Scott Hauser for a violation described in department materials as “policy 3 20.5 0.9 f,” citing disrespectful and unprofessional conduct while speaking with a coworker. The chief said the complaint was sustained, that Hauser “was disrespectful and unprofessional,” and that the department issued a letter of reprimand and supervisor counseling. The chief described the Hauser action as an administrative discipline he was authorized to issue and said no hearing had been requested.

Commissioners discussed scheduling after the suspension vote. The chief indicated Captain Hamlin, who oversees the patrol division where Corporal Gorbel is assigned, will be notified to schedule the suspension now that the commission has approved it. Commissioners asked whether the Gorbel incident was verbal or physical; the chief said it was verbal only.

The commission record shows the suspension motion passed by roll call and that the reprimand for Detective Hauser was presented to commissioners as a notification from the chief, not as a commission‑initiated hearing or action. No hearings were requested on either matter during the meeting.

The chief said disciplinary steps typically include corrective measures such as supervisor counseling or referrals to the department’s assistance programs alongside formal discipline.","At a regular meeting of the Elkhart Police Merit Commission, the commission voted 5–0 to approve a chief’s request to suspend Corporal Jeffrey Gorbel without pay for 30 days; Chief Dan Melanes also notified commissioners that Detective Scott Hauser received a letter of reprimand and supervisory counseling for a policy violation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Elkhart police report hiring gains, training and mental‑health resources after large shooting response; National Night Out set for Aug. 5

Five patrol officers move from third‑ to second‑class after first year, commission notified

Elkhart commission approves 30‑day unpaid suspension for Corporal Jeffrey Gorbel; chief issues reprimand for detective