[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6427991,"mediaKeyId","5881505-3441b5e20c6464b264afbd0cefe1b0ce","parentId",5881505,"title","Schererville Board of Safety approves emergency hiring process, extends conditional police offer","audioSeconds",1223,"startMs",393000,"endMs",1616000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5881505-3441b5e20c6464b264afbd0cefe1b0ce&start=393&end=1616","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5881505-3441b5e20c6464b264afbd0cefe1b0ce/thumbnail_393000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6427991/Schererville-Town/Lake-County/Indiana/Schererville-Board-of-Safety-approves-emergency-hiring-process-extends-conditional-police-offer","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6427991-d615ed15b23e11bf89090e35406fdf51/orig.mp4?Expires=1773584265&Signature=h-~sTHQtsO3bA--CCEjTr9n1dxer8-4kqXVzp7ak0vDof-VZmFVwbHhiBxz3mOCWnT2NIUSe9zgCX4UticbJSB0imXOdSR9pkJBGH6uMH19tcg9aCIPAyXQTJ54RijxiI~8J1rVpfhP0BExETMI~~gHcjca2fsGOZCLviMMpVUXg2dvEYqM4mclNqEt7XVA5oMPFBkZGVZ~bRbE5BIH~D6E9~Rb-J0QDiBs45PydWUuM2MAshUP7u7ujWQQ3wxtwHi7qe5D7HblfPdsj7edLW3R04yuL5D39~1lbekIS0q6kLRfxuH8nglDDnotF19ZLv6qw-fw5mQlqkc3cvbQEZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Schererville, CA","date","2025-10-02T22:59:14Z","article","The Schererville Board of Safety on Sept. 2 voted to suspend the town’s current police eligibility list, initiate an emergency hire process and extend a conditional offer of employment to the department’s top-ranked candidate to address looming retirements and staffing shortfalls.

Police Chief Peter Stormont told the board the department is authorized for 52 officers and currently has 51 on the payroll. Chief Peter Stormont said one officer has elected to use accrued time and will be off duty before an official March retirement date, which creates an urgent staffing gap. \"We are 1 officer down, 52 authorized strength. We're at 51,\" Stormont said. He recommended extending a conditional offer to the top candidate on the department’s 2025 eligibility roster, identified in meeting documents as Bridal Garbowsky, so the candidate can meet pension and academy registration deadlines.

Board members said they supported the move but asked for safeguards for applicants on the traditional hire list. Board member David Enneginger said he opposes routine use of emergency hiring when a standard list exists because it can disadvantage candidates who completed the full process. \"If we're gonna use the emergency hiring, it really should be for an emergency,\" Enneginger said. Stormont responded that the emergency process is intended to maintain operational readiness when multiple retirements or departures could otherwise leave patrol short-handed.

The board heard timeline details from Stormont: academy registration has a Nov. 11 deadline and the academy cohort discussed by staff is scheduled to start Jan. 16, 2026; an emergency-hire process shortens onboarding because hired officers are already state-certified and enrolled in the pension plan, which Stormont said can reduce processing to about 60 days. Stormont said the current traditional eligibility list will remain available to resume hiring once staffing stabilizes and that the list on file expires Sept. 5, 2026.

After discussion the board voted unanimously to (1) extend the conditional offer to Bridal Garbowsky, (2) suspend the existing eligibility list, and (3) initiate an emergency hire process to fill imminent vacancies. Each of those motions passed by consensus of the board members present.

The board was told the emergency hire posting period is about 30 days and that new hires from the emergency list would begin background processing immediately after the posting period, targeting January start dates if hiring proceeds on the schedule described.

The actions taken are procedural recommendations or internal hiring decisions overseen by the Board of Safety; the board noted the town’s Clerk-Treasurer and town manager have reviewed the financial implications and staff advised the plan is affordable within the department’s budget.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","October 2, 2025 Town of Schererville Board of Safety Meeting and Study Session","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Safety voted to suspend the current police eligibility list, initiate an emergency hire process and extend a conditional offer to the top candidate to address impending retirements and staffing shortfalls.","taxTitle","Schererville Town, Lake County, Indiana","taxId",51877,"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},6427978,"Board adopts body-worn camera and in-car video policy as department installs new systems",1016,699000,1715000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5881505-3441b5e20c6464b264afbd0cefe1b0ce&start=699&end=1715","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5881505-3441b5e20c6464b264afbd0cefe1b0ce/thumbnail_699000.jpg","/articles/6427978/Schererville-Town/Lake-County/Indiana/Board-adopts-body-worn-camera-and-in-car-video-policy-as-department-installs-new-systems","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6427978-8762c79a8576561e48934a70c43609e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773584265&Signature=QT8PRD1DYPSzE~VxHRBlYUJHvGr6CPpNp3DzolkGEQtPKQ4rtUgnAbxbYQrcnk56XLMcv3yp0gIGvCSJd-8DcA6k7zHJLLA5rDmM9hMG95r6FxgMIAxIPfCTfSCuga9U5DRlFKXILUa8AeyR1Ip9KYpEHri5OZ92Err-4GLL5U3pdZgfGEbYE5i6prQ0m9ZqtIQISVGLt986hC6dt7HOz-7g9hN7THlwqxIDZLCgzIzMvdmocL58tVONJatNJVqlutVYcVYAW6Su9oz5T12-oKkicWGMBoKg-t4cNUGBcX5l5OI75pqAb0GMQyj4KEz1AbjHNi4Xv7Mir5NzQHkeWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Schererville Board of Safety on Sept. 2 approved a revised body-worn camera and in-car video policy as the police department upgrades equipment across its fleet.

Police Chief Peter Stormont told the board the department has historically used in-car video with audio and is now installing body-worn cameras and updated in-car systems. \"We're upgrading our entire fleet with body worn cameras and in car video systems,\" Stormont said, adding that a contracted installation team completed work on 38 vehicles in the previous two and a half weeks and expected to finish remaining installs within days.

Stormont said the department updated its policies for body-worn cameras and in-car video; the revisions were reviewed by training coordinator Ryan Staley and town attorney Christian Bartholomew. When asked about the program’s cost, Stormont told the board the upgrade is \"right around $450,000.\" Board members moved to approve the policy as presented and praised the technology as beneficial for both officers and the public.

The motion to adopt the updated policy passed by unanimous vote of the members present. Town staff said the policy aligns department practice with the new equipment and provides for video production fees within the department’s proposed fee schedule revisions.","The Board of Safety approved a revised policy for body-worn cameras and upgraded in-car video systems as the police department installs cameras across its fleet. The project cost was reported at about $450,000.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6427987,"Board urges council to update police tow, records and miscellaneous fees",1045,396000,1441000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5881505-3441b5e20c6464b264afbd0cefe1b0ce&start=396&end=1441","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5881505-3441b5e20c6464b264afbd0cefe1b0ce/thumbnail_396000.jpg","/articles/6427987/Schererville-Town/Lake-County/Indiana/Board-urges-council-to-update-police-tow-records-and-miscellaneous-fees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6427987-9b9d7e4ba8e424a5bc3c9027cc361ebf/orig.mp4?Expires=1773584265&Signature=e2bTcuvFXGTCTpVSu2r4rDfBAnSmbyXK50Eqx1tppU-AUDu4Nb8oBrlsnyrscQmVTVz6h67Uv3t-58o8rLh1pn8wzNE5OoLgKhVERxZX2R6dV17~ofRsWP0nPYTZNSK9eOepPz9yiGtDpajHobc8YdxIJS3suAHYKmqumC4kR8MDk6c311TyFMHGmFLkIntmHlPFjE1ciydxQb3cdMzwhvnIO1V8mE~jELKw1Kv7Qc1m-hHaDfie77SYdNygp8~kt50VSwA~PtmPXS6uWujNMhKT-69bpxHWFilrunznODTNtPk7xFw7aRz4EOkLs~VaFKcnYQ4Bn4-ci9I6jm4xDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Schererville Board of Safety voted Sept. 2 to recommend that the Town Council review and update the police department’s fee schedules for towing and miscellaneous records-production costs.

Police Chief Peter Stormont told the board the department has not updated many miscellaneous fees for roughly 20 years and that the towing fees were updated in 2022. \"We're reviewing all our fees at the police department, and we've come across several categories that have not been updated in a decade,\" Stormont said. He asked the board to recommend two resolutions to the council: Resolution 2031 (tow fees) and Resolution 2032 (miscellaneous fees).

Stormont said the proposed tow-release fee would rise from $40 to $50 and that other items — including charges for video production tied to new body-worn camera systems — need revision because older items in the ordinance reference technologies the department no longer uses, such as videotapes.

Board members moved and seconded a recommendation for the council to consider the two resolutions; the motions passed unanimously. The board noted the resolution drafts are presented in ordinance form for council consideration and that final adoption would be the council’s responsibility.

The board did not set final amounts for every line item; Stormont told members the fee adjustments would be calibrated to recover department costs such as officer time at incident scenes, record processing and equipment maintenance.","The Board of Safety recommended two resolutions to the town council to update tow and miscellaneous police fees, citing some fees that have not changed in about 20 years and new costs such as body-worn camera video production.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6427970,"Board approves hiring of part-time firefighter-EMT for Schererville Fire Department",1078,305000,1383000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5881505-3441b5e20c6464b264afbd0cefe1b0ce&start=305&end=1383","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5881505-3441b5e20c6464b264afbd0cefe1b0ce/thumbnail_305000.jpg","/articles/6427970/Schererville-Town/Lake-County/Indiana/Board-approves-hiring-of-part-time-firefighter-EMT-for-Schererville-Fire-Department","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6427970-69c09c1ab67abd21451ca58920d58444/orig.mp4?Expires=1773584265&Signature=L48IO6laTIAR9uay~HVbZYrBKQ29F2lp~e7vfr0RWHpXWuDFYrhIO0xanwkuMlZBniiNv6Ef7k5aOnF0fCgKB2AzOTsbD2bRj4-RkQD93xan~oEaYIfsXGmE3DtFI4gtLYrheyclrE30~JtlVFL7nBvFR-Xik-AeObtZyRl4SDurV3LDu2117wYM26ZYukcu4UFsUuIahgz61L~9ngITEiz7QeXTIHveZGRjjAqABGsGj1NcShEckG88bzJYZnTpUsBXusZTExRPAaLu0re3J7L8NysYll-Ri7YW~8cm2QjCM71i2EM0gBjpRCqEHeX2~iFNadzPQyNffSROtPxuuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Schererville Board of Safety unanimously approved the hiring of a part-time firefighter-EMT for the Schererville Fire Department at its Sept. 2 meeting.

Fire Chief Robert Patterson asked the board for permission to hire a part-time firefighter-EMT. Chief Robert Patterson said the candidate is a female who also volunteers with the Munster Fire Department and that he, Assistant Chief Gettemanns and Chief Steve Waters interviewed her. \"They said nothing but good things about her, so I think she'd be a good fit,\" Patterson said.

Board members moved, seconded and voted to approve the hire in the regular business portion of the meeting; the motion passed unanimously. The hiring packet was circulated to board members before the vote, and no members requested further discussion.

At the meeting Chief Patterson also thanked Captain Natalie Ferentella for community outreach noted earlier in the meeting, and he reminded attendees that the fire department’s open house will be held Saturday at Station 2, 280 Plum Creek Drive, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.","The Board of Safety voted to hire a part-time firefighter-EMT after the fire chief said the candidate is recommended following interviews and positive references from neighboring Munster Fire Department volunteers.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Schererville Board of Safety approves emergency hiring process, extends conditional police offer

Board adopts body-worn camera and in-car video policy as department installs new systems

Board urges council to update police tow, records and miscellaneous fees

Board approves hiring of part-time firefighter-EMT for Schererville Fire Department