Northwest Indiana Counties Aim to Join Gun Task Force

Porter and LaPorte counties are eager to join the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force. However, the path to inclusion isn't straightforward. The bill allowing their entry has been sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee, signaling potential challenges ahead.

Indiana Crime Guns Task Force Overview

The Indiana Crime Guns Task Force was established in 2021. Currently, ten counties are part of this initiative. Lake County joined recently, in 2025. State Senators Rodney Pol Jr. and Aaron Freeman authored Senate Bill 148. This bill aims to include Porter and LaPorte counties in the task force. The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee unanimously approved it.

Achievements and Impact

Pol highlighted the task force's achievements. They have confiscated hundreds of guns. Nearly 200 of these were Glock switch guns. These are modified Glock pistols that function like machine guns. Pol praised the collaboration among law enforcement agencies. He noted their efforts to combat violent crime involving illegal guns and drugs.

Law enforcement officials have identified a route for illegal guns. These weapons travel from Chicago to Northwest Indiana and then to central Indiana. Pol emphasized that crime and guns do not respect county borders.

Bill Amendments and Support

Initially, the bill proposed increasing the executive board members for a quorum from seven to eight. It also suggested that the chairperson's vote would decide tie-breakers. However, Freeman amended the bill. He reverted to the original language, stating that a majority of the board establishes a quorum. A tie would be broken by the chairperson and four other members voting the same way.

Porter County Sheriff Jeffrey Balon supported the bill. He stated that Porter County is fully in favor of joining the task force. Balon mentioned that LaPorte County Sheriff John Boyd also supports the initiative. Boyd couldn't attend the committee meeting but conveyed his approval through Balon.

Testimony and Funding Concerns

Fishers Police Department Chief Ed Gebhart testified in support of the bill. He noted that Fishers was one of the founding members of the task force. In 2025, the task force seized 349 illegal guns in Marion County. This led to 293 state charges and 28 federal charges. Since its establishment in 2021, Fishers has seized 555 illegal guns.

Gebhart emphasized the task force's success. He believes the initiative should expand statewide. However, he stressed the importance of adequate funding. Gebhart stated that the current budget cannot support the addition of two more counties.

Future Steps

Freeman acknowledged the bill's assignment to the appropriations committee. He assured that they would continue working on it. He mentioned that both he and Pol are committed to seeing this through.

The committee voted 9-0 in favor of the bill. It has now been sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration.