New Chicago town officials fired embattled Police Chief Earl Mayo on Monday, and new information came to light on how the Indiana police chief came to store confiscated guns from police investigations in a safe in his Merrillville home.
Town Attorney Lloyd Mullen told reporters after the meeting that Mayo kept confiscated weapons in his home safe because the town’s operations are being temporarily housed in River Forest Elementary School and guns aren’t allowed in schools.
Town officials said Tuesday morning they agreed to allow Mayo to store guns in his home safe if he gained permission from the Lake County Prosecutor’s office.
Mayo allegedly contacted the prosecutor’s office Oct. 23, 2024, seeking permission. Town manager Sue Pelfrey said she also asked the prosecutor’s office for guidance on the proper procedures to store the guns.
“I didn’t hear back, so I presumed Earl was given the correct information on securing all evidence,” she said.
Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter’s office didn’t immediately respond to questions Tuesday about Mayo seeking permission to store the guns. Carter couldn’t be reached for comment, either.
Mayo, 45, of Merrillville, has been charged with selling a gun confiscated from town police investigations to a Hobart pawn shop. He faces seven felony charges, including two theft counts, two official misconduct counts, one attempted obstruction of justice count and two counts of possession of anabolic steroids.
Police arrested him on May 22 in Clark County, Ohio, and he returned to Lake County last week after his extradition. He’s been released from the Lake County Jail on a $7,000 bond. He didn’t respond for comment on the firing. He has the right to appeal the firing, officials said.
Mayo’s co-defendant, 47-year-old Taneka Roshawn Borders, also of Merrillville, is charged with assisting Mayo and possession of anabolic steroids.
According to online records, Borders was released on a $4,000 bond May 29 and sought a motion allowing her to travel out of state. On Tuesday, her attorney filed a motion for the appointment of a special prosecutor. Borders’ next court appearance is June 9.
Mayo’s initial hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Friday.
Mullen said town officials trusted and respected Mayo, who’s the son of Indiana State Police Maj. Jerry Williams. Mullen said town officials were stunned at Mayo’s arrest on May 22. Williams is also the Democratic nominee for Lake County Sheriff in the Nov. 3 general election.
Mullen suggested the pawn shop gun sale might have been a “mistake, but unfortunately, he did other things,” referring to the probable cause affidavit that alleged Mayo told his co-defendant Borders to destroy steroid vials and told New Chicago operations commander Antoine Goffin to buy back a gun he sold to the pawn shop.
The police commission named Goffin interim police chief Monday and Town Council President Jim Gibson affirmed the recommendation.
Goffin pledged to improve the department’s morale and to return faith in it. He said he’s been a part-time officer with New Chicago for the past three years and is director of security at the Merrillville Community School Corp. Goffin said he also spent 10 years with the Gary Police Department. He is also a member of the board of directors for the Gary Public Transportation Corp.
“This came as a surprise to all of us,” he said of Mayo’s arrest and charges. “We’re just hoping to regain public trust.”
He said New Chicago has three full-time officers and hopes to add two more officers soon.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
