Board approves conditional offers to three emergency-hire police candidates

The Schererville Public Safety Board voted unanimously to extend conditional offers to three candidates on the police department’s emergency-hire list. Police Chief Pete Zormoz told the board the department interviewed nine applicants and recommended Joseph Kelkins, Christopher Wanett and Joshua Anthony Williams for conditional offers, pending completion of background checks and required paperwork.

"We did have nine applicants," Zormoz said, and "I will be recommending to the board to extend a conditional offer" to the three candidates. The chair called for a motion to approve the recommendation; after the motion and a second, the board approved it 4-0.

Zormoz said approving the conditional offers and completing the swearing-in process will bring the department to its authorized strength of 52 officers in July, though he added retirements later in the year are expected to reduce that number over time. The offers are conditional: final employment depends on standard background investigations and paperwork that candidates must still complete.

The board did not identify the motion’s mover or seconder on the record beyond the chair’s request; minutes indicate the motion carried unanimously. The department said the hires were the result of a one-day interview process and thanked board members and staff who participated in screening candidates.

Next steps: conditional offers will be extended and the department will proceed with final background checks and onboarding at the regular meeting when paperwork is finished.