Residents, council members press Gary police staffing and crime response after recent shootings

Two members of the public used the Gary Common Council’s public comment period to raise concerns about violent crime and what they described as gaps in police response; council members responded and said they would follow up with the Gary Police Department.

Ivan Ursery, chairman of the Gary Republican Party, said the city has budgeted for “over 80 more police officers than they have currently” and urged higher pay to attract officers. “As I drive up and down the streets… you see people completely disregarding lights, speed limits…and no accountability,” Ursery said during his remarks. He urged the council to make recruitment and pay a top priority.

Christie Sass described a shooting she said occurred at Warren and Oak the week before Christmas and said she heard the crime scene had not been processed the next morning. “I knew it was gunshots… two people were shot at Warren And Oak… the woman made it into the house and was laying in a pool of blood,” Sass said. She asked the council for an update and said she feared being out after dark.

Council responses and follow-up: President Atkins noted the police chief was not present and said the Gary Police Department is the appropriate place for operational updates. Council members said they would ask the chief for follow-up information. Councilman Washington — who identified that his brother was murdered on Oct. 29 and said he is receiving regular updates from the detective assigned to that case — asked for “a little more respect” for the police and stressed that limited local revenue constrains hiring. “We don't have enough revenue to hire police officers,” Washington said, adding that detectives are communicating status on ongoing investigations.

Councilwoman Ivy said she had received an update from Chief Dumas about concerns near Fifteenth Avenue and Harrison Boulevard and asked that the information be shared more broadly. Councilman Winston noted a planned community meeting that will invite the chief and detectives and praised citizens and police for working together to address recent incidents.

No formal action was taken at the meeting; council members and staff said they would follow up with the Gary Police Department and with members of the public who raised specific concerns. The council also noted that operational police matters (crime-scene processing, ongoing investigations) are handled by the police department and not by the council itself.

Ending: Council members urged patience while leaders pursue follow-up with police and said community meetings and coordination will continue as part of the city’s response.