Gary police chief reports crime declines, gives tip‑line info and warns of Kia/Hyundai theft trend

Police Chief Derek Cannon opened his remarks by describing his long tenure with local law enforcement and the department’s recent stabilization under current leadership.

Cannon told the forum the department had "made significant gains" and that crime is down in most categories; he said, "we reported this year that the homicide rate has been the lowest that we can think since back to 1970 in this community." He attributed improvements to collaboration between police and residents and said he wants continued accountability and consistent standards for officers.

The chief outlined the city's call‑handling and dispatch framework: Lake County handles dispatch and uses a prioritization system; callers should use 911 for emergencies and the city's non‑emergency number for lower‑priority incidents. He gave the non‑emergency number as (219) 660‑0000 and provided a text‑to‑tip line, (219) 207‑8477, which he said is monitored but not an immediate‑response channel.

Residents raised concerns about auto theft. Cannon said auto thefts overall are down but noted certain Hyundai and Kia models have been targeted; he recommended owners add visible secondary devices and consult dealerships or trusted mechanics about anti‑theft measures.

Cannon also described juvenile curfew rules (examples given for under‑18 curfew hours) and invited residents to contact supervisors or his office about complaints or praise for police response. He closed by offering contact methods for follow‑up and encouraging residents to report non‑emergencies so the department can audit and improve service.