Elkhart mayor and police chief say county homicide unit is leading probe of officer-involved shooting
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Summary
Elkhart officials said the Elkhart County homicide unit has taken over the officer-involved shooting that occurred early Sunday at High Dye Park Pavilion; investigators are collecting body‑cam, ballistic and medical evidence and the prosecutor's office will review findings, officials said.
Elkhart officials on Tuesday said the Elkhart County homicide unit is conducting the investigation into an officer‑involved shooting that occurred early Sunday outside High Dye Park Pavilion and that the Elkhart County Prosecutor's Office will review the completed probe before any prosecutorial decisions.
Chief Dan Millenese, identifying himself as chief of the Elkhart Police Department, told reporters the shift supervisor responded to the scene and notified the county homicide detective on call. "The homicide unit is a multi‑jurisdictional investigative unit in Elkhart County that specializes in the investigations of all homicides, suicides, child deaths, suspicious deaths, and police use of deadly force events," he said.
Millenese described the types of evidence investigators collect — including body and car camera footage, ballistic testing and medical or coroner reports — and cautioned that those steps can take from days to months. He said releasing material before it is verified risks spreading misinformation and could impede the work of detectives.
"When the time comes, for the details of the incident to be released, it would be done so in a transparent manner," Millenese said. He asked the public for patience and provided a contact number for the Elkhart County homicide unit: (574) 295‑2825.
The mayor (not named in the transcript) said the city is committed to transparency, fairness and due process and that officials will provide additional facts "as soon as possible" and in coordination with the prosecutor's office. The mayor added that the city will update the public when investigators and the prosecutor determine what can be released; officials anticipated a possible update early next week.
Officials declined to comment on whether an officer's use of force in this specific case was justified, saying that determination must await the homicide unit's investigation and the prosecutor's review. Millenese described the general threshold for deadly force as when an officer reasonably perceives a threat of serious bodily injury or death to the officer or others.
The chief said the Elkhart Police Department will fully cooperate with the county homicide unit and the Elkhart County Prosecutor's Office. "I will do everything in my power to protect the integrity of the investigation," he said. "No matter what the results are, we need to protect the integrity of the investigation for everybody involved."
