Burns Harbor approves March minutes; police department reports new hire and academy graduation

The Burns Harbor Town Council approved the minutes from its March 12, 2025, meeting and heard a police-department personnel update that officials said included a newly hired officer who began work in late April and an officer who recently graduated from the regional academy.

Council members voted to approve the March 12, 2025, minutes following a motion and second; the record did not specify who moved or seconded the motion, and individual roll-call votes were not recorded in the transcript excerpt.

A police department representative reported that recently hired Officer Nathan Bennett received medical-board clearance on April 12 and began work April 28. The representative said Bennett is undergoing a 40-hour basic training sequence and additional intermediate field training.

The representative also reported that an officer identified as Officer Grama graduated from the Northern Indiana Law Enforcement Academy on May 2; the representative said Assistant Chief Tim Lucas and Michelle Watkins attended the graduation. The representative added that staff and Clark Watkins attended a “shared Essex train-the-trainer” session hosted in the council chamber on April 22 to set up further training for department personnel.

No formal policy changes, hiring details beyond start and training dates, or funding actions were recorded in the excerpted transcript. No further action or directive related to staffing was recorded in the provided segment.

Votes at a glance: Approval of minutes from March 12, 2025 — motion and second recorded on the floor; mover and seconder not specified in the transcript excerpt; outcome recorded as approved.