The Indiana State Police investigation into the Chesterton officer-involved shooting in front of the Hilton Garden Inn on June 18 could be finished within two weeks and forwarded to the Porter County Prosecutor’s office.
Chesterton Police Chief Tim Richardson gave an update on the investigation during Thursday’s Chesterton Police Commission meeting.
The shootout on Gateway Boulevard resulted in Joseph P. Gerber, 45, dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he was struck by several shots.
A 33-year-old Chesterton police officer suffered a gunshot wound during the exchange and is at home recovering, while the other officer, a veteran lieutenant, escaped injury.
On the morning of June 18, Chesterton police had been called by a hotel staff member to investigate a man who was acting “suspiciously.” Police haven’t said what triggered the sudden confrontation, but Elkhart County issued a warrant June 17 for Gerber’s arrest because he violated probation terms stemming from a 2019 armed robbery case.
Both officers remain on paid administrative leave, which they were placed on immediately after the shooting. The Post-Tribune is not using their names because of the ongoing investigation.
Richardson told the commission that both officers will not be released from leave until after Porter County Prosecutor Gary Germann makes his final determination.
The wounded officer is likely to be out longer, Richardson said.
“He may get released for light duty. However long it takes to get him back to full duty,” Richardson said.
Richardson said that he heard that the service weapons from both officers, taken by the Indiana State Police immediately after the shooting as part of the investigation, may be returned next week.
It is standard procedure to take an officer’s weapon to perform ballistics testing.
Commission member John Schnadenberg, who is also street commissioner and happened to be out of town when the shootout occurred, said he was glad the incident “wasn’t any worse than what it was.”
“It could have gone wrong in so many ways, but I am glad it worked out,” Schnadenberg said.
Commission members Pete Duda and Mike Orlich also said they were grateful to hear that the officers are doing well after the incident.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
