Merrillville police commission approves probation removals, adopts hiring policy, and accepts three resignations

The Metropolitan Police Commission of the Town of Merrillville approved a series of personnel actions and policy changes at its meeting, including removal of probationary status for several officers, adoption of a new lateral-hire benefits order and acceptance of three resignations.

Commissioners adopted Resolution 1056 to remove the probationary classification for Corporal Ian Folultz and Pav Papovich effective 12:01 a.m. Feb. 2, 2026; the motion passed on a roll-call vote with all commissioners voting yes. They then adopted Resolution 1057 removing probationary status for Sergeants Jason Bess and Matthew Panuka effective 12:01 a.m. Feb. 22, 2026, and Resolution 1058 appointing Paul Francis Jr. as a civilian full-time code enforcement officer effective 12:01 a.m. March 9, 2026. Each resolution passed on roll-call votes with unanimous support.

The chief presented department statistics for December and January and an annual summary. For December the department recorded 107 state reports, 201 citations, 285 traffic stops, roughly 2,280 calls for service and 3,912 officer responses; December also included 77 adult arrests and one juvenile arrest. January totals included 128 state accident reports, 394 citations, 295 traffic stops, 93 adult arrests, three juvenile arrests, 2,177 calls for service and 3,667 officer responses; the chief reported one homicide for January and about 12 thefts. The chief cautioned that "some of these numbers are skewed," noting the department's move to e-ticketing, which can bundle multiple citations under one citation number, and that one death remained under prosecutor review.

The commission awarded multiple commendations recognizing officers for responses to critical incidents. For an incident on Jan. 30 at 5452 Maryland Street, Corporal Cory Nash, Officer Daniel Knight and Detective Philip (name spelled Mace/Mason in the transcript) were recommended for level-three commendations after securing the scene, removing a loaded revolver from a subject, and rendering aid; the commission approved the recommendation. For a Feb. 2 Motel 6 incident, Officer Julian Garza was recommended for a level-two commendation and Officers Timothy Michaels and Jacob Olsen for level-one commendations after Garza located a vehicle, coordinated a foot pursuit and used a department-issued taser to take a suspect with multiple warrants into custody; the commission approved those commendations. After a Feb. 15 shooting at the Howard Johnson Hotel (7850 Rhode Island Street) that produced multiple gunshot victims, patrol officers and detectives who provided life-saving measures and managed multiple scenes were recommended for level-one and level-two commendations and the commission approved the awards.

The chief also described a coordinated investigation that identified a suspect known as the "door kicker," Jamal Moore, who was subsequently charged with multiple felony counts related to home invasions and burglaries; several patrol officers and detectives were recommended for commendations related to that investigation and the commission approved them.

On hiring and policy matters, commission members voted to close the current lateral hiring process after command staff reported that four interviewed lateral candidates were ineligible (failed background checks or did not meet interview requirements). The commission then adopted General Order 2312, a new lateral-hire benefits policy, by roll-call vote. Commissioners voted to amend Section 26 of the general orders (duties of the special service officer) and the amendment passed.

The commission read and accepted three resignation letters: Officer Tom Sarsfield, who said he accepted employment with the St. John Police Department and listed March 1, 2026 as his departure date; Officer Ryan O'Harn, who said he accepted a conditional offer with another agency (noted in the meeting as Porter County) and expects his last day to be March 22, 2026; and Officer Ian Davidson Dugan, who signed a conditional offer with the Lake County Sheriff's Department and listed March 19, 2026 as his intended last day. Each resignation was accepted by motion and vote.

The commission voted to open a new lateral hiring process running from the 9th of the month through April 2. The public comment period drew no speakers. The commission set its next meeting for April 10, 2026 at 2 p.m. and adjourned.