The Gary Police Department will look for a new police chief while Indiana State Police conduct a thorough review of the department's policies. Mayor Jerome Prince announced the partnership Monday, saying the process will take place over the next 90 to 120 days.
"That review will take a deep dive into standard operating procedures, our police department internal organization structure, investigative procedures, training, evidentiary inventory and fiscal accountability," Prince explained during a press conference.
State Police Superintendent Doug Carter said the mayor approached him about the idea a month and a half to two months ago, and he feels that the best way for Gary to take advantage of its "tremendous opportunity" is from the inside out.
"We don't have all of the answers, but I'm willing to commit a tremendous amount of our assets and of our resources to maybe help the city of Gary along the way," Carter said.
During the process, State Police Major Jerry Williams, himself a Gary resident, will serve as a consultant. Williams stressed that state police won't be directly taking over law enforcement in Gary as they did in 1995. He said this process will be more beneficial.
"An opportunity to leverage resources on a state and, hopefully, maybe, even a national level, to just do a small part or a small piece to help our own communities in the state of Indiana," Williams said.
Current police chief Brian Evans will remain an "integral part" of the Gary Police Department, according to Mayor Prince, and will help in the search for his replacement. Evans said the accomplishments he's most proud of during his time as chief are improving the department's technology and recruitment efforts.
"We plan on utilizing this opportunity and partnership with the state police to enhance those efforts, to basically look at our technological efforts and improve them in every aspect," Evans added.
Superintendent Carter said life changed for policing in America after the death of George Floyd. "I need to do a better job myself and what I represent, getting into local communities and the dining room tables and living rooms and, specifically, with people that don't look like me, and I'm more than willing to do that. It's really, really important. As I sunset in my career, I don't want to look back and think 'I had an opportunity there and I missed it,'" Carter added.
He promised the process would be collaborative, direct, honest and objective.
