Merrillville police commission approves promotions, adopts Resolutions 10-53 and 10-54

The Board of Metropolitan Police Commissioners of the Town of Merrillville approved two resolutions promoting a group of patrol officers to higher classifications and recorded a roll-call vote on one measure.

Commission President Pollan read Resolution 10-53, which the commission adopted to promote Griffin Belt and Braden Anderson from probationary patrolman to second-class patrolman effective 01/01/2026. The motion to adopt Resolution 10-53 was made and seconded and carried by voice vote.

The board then considered Resolution 10-54, which moves specified second-class patrolmen to first-class patrolman, effective 01/04/2026. The commission recorded a roll-call vote on Resolution 10-54; Commissioners present responded "Yes" and President Pollan announced the resolution passed. Commissioner Rich made the motion to adopt Resolution 10-54 and Commissioner Catino seconded.

Why it matters: Personnel promotions alter department ranks and pay classifications and can affect shift staffing and supervisory capacity at a time the department reported an active hiring need. The commission scheduled these personnel changes to take effect at the start of January.

What the record shows: Resolutions were introduced and read aloud during the meeting. The text read to the commission described the reclassification and specified effective dates for the promotions. The record contains no amendment to the resolutions and no public comment on the promotions.

Next steps: The personnel changes are effective on the dates listed in the resolutions; the commission did not attach additional conditions or study directives to these motions.