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Michigan City police say overall crime dipped in 2025 even as firearm and violent-crime investigations rose
Summary
The Police Department's 2025 report showed a 4.4% drop in total reported offenses, while violent-crime and firearm-related investigations increased; council members pressed the department for age breakdowns and local options such as buybacks, education and targeted enforcement.
The Michigan City Police Department reported that overall reported offenses fell 4.4% in 2025, from 3,565 to 3,407, but highlighted a rise in violent-crime and firearm-related investigations, during a June 2 common council meeting.
Chief Steve Forkersheef, who presented the department's 2025 public-safety report, said calls for service remained high at nearly 42,000 and that the department has shifted toward intelligence-led, targeted enforcement. "We're dedicating more investigative resources, strengthening partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies, and utilizing intelligence-led policing strategies," he said. The report showed violent-crime investigations rose about 27.5% and firearm-related investigations rose nearly 38% in 2025.
Forkersheef told the council that while total arrests decreased slightly, the department recorded increases in accountability where it matters most: violent-crime arrests rose nearly 83% and firearm arrests rose about 93% compared with the prior year. "We are focusing resources on violent offenders, illegal firearms, and repeat offenders who have the greatest impact on community safety," he said.
Council members pressed for more detail. Councilman Dabney asked how a state law change allowing 18-year-olds to buy firearms without a permit has affected local policing; Forkersheef said the department did not have an age breakdown immediately available but could provide it. Doctor Cora and others emphasized that the prefrontal cortex of younger adults is still developing and asked whether youth were driving the increase in some categories. "I don't have that specific number in front of me," Forkersheef said, adding staff could extract age-related data on firearm-related incidents.
Council members and the chief discussed local options to reduce gun violence, including education, community partnerships and a gun buyback. The chief said Michigan City has not run a buyback program in many years but that it could be explored again; one councilmember urged the police to propose a program and potential funding.
The presentation also flagged other shifts: drug-offense investigations declined 29%, driving offenses declined about 12.7%, and community-policing contacts rose 6.7% year-over-year, the chief said.
The council asked the department to follow up with requested breakdowns, public information on curfew rules and more detail about enforcement strategies. Forkersheef emphasized that prevention, community engagement and targeted enforcement are complementary parts of the department's approach.
The council did not take any formal votes tied to the report; members said they expect follow-up materials and data at a future meeting.
