Hobart Mayor Brian Snedecor on Friday swore in the city’s newest police officer, bringing the force up to 63 full-time officers.
Michael Gallagher, of Hobart, was a reserve officer with the Hobart Police Department for nearly three years, during which time he volunteered more than 1,100 hours to the program, Chief Richard Zormier said.
Gallagher worked for the Hobart public works and sanitation department for the past 10 years, Zormier said.
Zormier said Gallagher was one of 15 reserve officers who collectively provided more than 6,000 volunteer hours in public service through the Police Department.
“These individuals put a uniform on, which sometimes in and of itself can cause them to be in danger,” Zormier said.
“We live in a 21st-century society where the number of officers ambushed is higher than ever recorded in history, and the number of officers killed by gunfire is up 64 percent from last year with a very long month of December left.”
Gallagher’s hiring was made possible through a COPS grant that was supported by U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Indiana, and U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Merrillville.
“While we originally requested three officers through the grant, we will make the best of our goals with the one officer and assigning additional duties to other officers within our ranks,” Zormier said.
He said the department’s goals are to educate youths on the perils of drugs; provide life-saving intervention at the time of overdose followed by intensive investigation; provide drug users with resources, guidance and support in seeking rehabilitation; and dismantle local drug dealers and common nuisance residences through enforcement and by interrupting the drug supply.
Karen Caffarini is a freelance reporter from the Post-Tribune.
