NW Indiana Copblock

10/11/2026

https://abc7chicago.com/amp/post/hobart-police-officer-corporal-mike-gallagher-facing-battery-dui-charges-incident-jackson-street-indiana-chief-says/19927271/

A Hobart police officer is facing battery and DUI charges, the chief said.

09/28/2026

Imagine that

Court hearings begin for IMPD officers charged over misuse of the department's Flock ALPR technology.

08/28/2026

Shocking I know. 🤷‍♂️

Porter County Sheriff’s Officer Disciplined for Improper License Plate Reader Search

PORTER COUNTY — A Porter County Sheriff’s Office officer has been demoted and suspended without pay after an internal investigation determined the officer improperly searched a citizen’s license plate using the department’s Flock license plate reader system.

Porter County Sheriff Jeff Balon announced the disciplinary action Thursday, saying he decided to publicly address the internal affairs investigation because of the national attention surrounding law enforcement’s use of license plate reader technology.

According to Balon, the investigation began after a citizen discovered their license plate had been searched through the Porter County Sheriff’s Office’s Flock LPR system for a reason that was not consistent with department policy.

Balon said he immediately ordered an internal affairs investigation.

“The outcome of the investigation confirmed that an Officer did enter the citizen’s license plate into the Flock LPR system,” Balon said. “The reason for the entry violated our policy.”

The sheriff’s office did not identify the officer or disclose the specific reason the license plate was searched.

As a result of the investigation, the officer received a demotion in rank, an unpaid suspension, an indefinite suspension from using the Flock system and mandatory remedial ethics training.

Balon said the violation occurred under a previous version of the department’s Flock policy and that the officer’s actions violated the rules that were in place at the time.

Since the incident, the sheriff said PCSO has strengthened its policies and implemented additional safeguards governing license plate reader searches.

Under the updated policy, every Flock search conducted by a member of the Porter County Sheriff’s Office must include a case number and a reason for the search.

The department is also utilizing Flock’s audit system, which uses artificial intelligence to identify searches that may appear suspicious or otherwise raise concerns. Those searches can then be flagged for review by the sheriff’s office.

Balon said the additional measures are intended to provide another layer of oversight and accountability.

License plate reader systems are used by law enforcement agencies to identify and locate vehicles associated with criminal investigations, wanted persons and other public safety matters. Balon emphasized that while the technology can be a valuable law enforcement tool, its use must remain within department policy.

“As I have mentioned in the past, LPRs are a valuable tool in fighting crime and helping our citizens in need,” Balon said. “However, as with any law enforcement tool, if they are used inappropriately, we will hold our Officers accountable for their misuse.”

No additional information regarding the identity of the officer, the citizen involved or the circumstances surrounding the improper search was released.

07/31/2026

👀

As more cases of police misuse of Flock data appear, lawmakers and civil groups are ramping up pressure.

07/31/2026

07/17/2026

How many flock cameras are in your neighborhood?

Find license plate readers (LPRs) near you.

05/26/2026

New Chicago Police Chief Earl Mayo is facing multiple felony charges after prosecutors accused him of selling a department gun tied to an active criminal case. Investigators said Mayo later tried to recover the pawned fi***rm and also allegedly possessed anabolic steroids without a prescription. The investigation began after a fi***rm trace uncovered inconsistencies between police evidence records and pawn shop documents.

A northwest Indiana police chief is accused of selling off a gun tied to an active criminal case, touching off an investigation that led to felony charges involving theft, misconduct and steroids.

New Chicago police chief charged

What to know:

A Lake County, Indiana, grand jury returned a multi-count indictment against New Chicago Police Chief Earl Mayo, alleging theft, official misconduct, obstruction of justice and unlawful possession of anabolic steroids tied to the sale and attempted recovery of a department fi***rm, court records show.

Mayo faces eight counts stemming from incidents dated April 29, 2025, and May 22, 2026, according to filings in Lake County, Indiana Superior Court.

Prosecutors say Mayo took a Ta**us G3 handgun owned by the Town of New Chicago without permission and sold it to a Lake County pawn shop on April 29, 2025, removing a gun that was connected to an active criminal case from police custody.

Court documents also alleged Mayo, while serving as a public official, committed theft in the course of his duties, constituting official misconduct.

A separate count alleges attempted obstruction of justice on Friday, after investigators say Mayo tried to recover the pawned fi***rm before it could be used as evidence in a criminal proceeding.

Additional charges allege Mayo possessed anabolic steroids, including Trenbolone and Equipoise, without a valid prescription.

The backstory:

Investigators say the case began when a fi***rm trace tied to an upcoming trial revealed discrepancies between evidence logs and pawn shop records. Detectives later determined the Ta**us G3 had been sold along with other fi***rms at Mega Cash Paw



n in Hobart on April 29, 2025.

According to investigators, a pawn shop manager confirmed Mayo personally sold multiple guns and later attempted to coordinate the guns return through intermediaries, including a city employee and another individual sent to retrieve the weapon.

Authorities also alleged a woman connected to Mayo attempted to destroy glass vials containing suspected steroids when confronted by investigators at his residence in Merrillville.

Detectives further allege Mayo made statements suggesting he kept items at his home that the feds would never find, including fi***rm suppressors.

The Lake County Sheriffs Department and Indiana State Police assisted in the investigation.

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