Gary City committee reviews Hard Rock donation to replace police fleet

The Gary City Ways and Means Committee considered CPO 20 26 17, an ordinance to appropriate a multi-year donation from Hard Rock for new police vehicles. Councilman Kenneth Washington, committee chair, introduced the item and called on a city presenter to summarize the budget and terms.

The presenter said the donation is structured as a six-year contribution to update the police fleet. As stated in the packet, the budget lines mentioned in the presentation include $23,000 for other materials, $20,000 for current charges and $500,000 for machinery and equipment to cover the vehicles. The presenter said the city provides an annual match that was included in the 2026 budget and that the original agreement provided 23 vehicles in the first year with about 15 vehicles planned in subsequent years.

Chief Cannon, who spoke after the presentation, said the city has taken physical possession of the first 23 vehicles and is "about two-thirds of the way" through outfitting them. "Some of those cars have already hit the street," he said. He added the remainder will be finished and deployed soon. On the disposition of retired units, Chief Cannon said the vehicles being removed from the fleet will go through the city's auction and that the auction proceeds will be appropriated to the appropriate city funds.

Chair Kenneth Washington asked two questions during the exchange: whether the first batch was already deployed, and whether proceeds from retired vehicles would return to the donation fund or the general fund. Chief Cannon answered both: some vehicles are already on patrol and retired units will be auctioned with proceeds placed into the proper city funds.

The committee did not record a formal vote or final action in the provided transcript. After discussion, the chair thanked presenters and moved on to the next agenda item.