On Tuesday, just before 6 a.m., two dispatchers took to the airwaves to broadcast a heartfelt final radio message for the Chesterton/Porter joint police dispatch center. Kaylee Nugent reflected on how, for over five decades, Porter police dispatchers had been the department’s voice. “We weren’t the face of the department. We were its voice,” Nugent shared, speaking on behalf of all her predecessors. She added, “You are part of our history and we are proud to have been part of yours. To our community and officers, thank you for trusting the voice on the other end of the line.”
Jessica Holaway, a Chesterton employee at the dispatch center, spoke next. She discussed how the two communities united in 2014 to form a joint dispatch operating from the Porter Police station. “Moving forward, your calls will be answered from a different room, and a new chapter will begin. But what happened inside this dispatch center mattered. The friendships, the laughs, the cries, and the hard calls all mattered,” Holaway stated. She concluded with “Long live Northcom,” referencing efforts to preserve the center. At 6 a.m., the consolidation with the Porter County E-911 became official.
In the final days, dispatchers tried to create a light-hearted atmosphere in the center. Doors displayed streamers, floors were sprinkled with confetti, and a banner hung from the ceiling reading, “The beginning of a new chapter.” These decorations aimed to cast a positive light on the situation.
“They’re trying to be good sports about it,” said Porter Police Chief Dan Dickey.
Dickey disclosed that all full-time employees secured other jobs, which led to moving up the center’s closing by a month, to September 1, 2026. “It’s definitely not what we wanted,” Dickey commented. He described the situation as “somewhat bitter.”
Dickey has a personal connection to the center, having begun his law enforcement career there at 18 as a part-time dispatcher in 2006. Porter and Chesterton established the joint center in 2014. Dickey had previously advocated for the communities to maintain their own dispatch.
The push for consolidation began on June 18, 2025, amid a highly stressful day for local law enforcement. Chesterton police, responding to a disturbance at the Hilton Garden Inn, encountered a shootout on Gateway Boulevard. An officer was wounded, and the suspect took his own life. Authorities cordoned off the scene to investigate.
Porter County Commissioner Jim Biggs and Porter County Central Communications Director Debby Gunn criticized the delays in emergency response, attributing them to having a separate dispatch. This spurred a strong reaction from the communities and calls for Gunn’s resignation. Eventually, the commissioners mandated that, from April 1, all 911 calls bypass the joint center to align with state regulations for Porter County E-911.
Nugent, continuing as a clerk with the police department, expressed difficulty with the transition due to county dispatchers’ unfamiliarity with local protocols. Efforts to foster better relations between the communities and county are ongoing.
“On the humanistic side, I am sad for our employees who no longer have positions because of the consolidation,”
said Chesterton Police Chief Tim Richardson. However, he remains hopeful that centralizing dispatch will enhance communication among first responders.
In the interim, Chesterton and Porter are sharing a dispatch channel with the Porter County Sheriff’s Office. Richardson noted plans to potentially add a channel for the Duneland area in the 911 system.
As Chesterton and Porter concluded their dispatch services, Gunn prepared for the consolidation. She announced her departure in July but continues to serve until a successor is appointed. Gunn aims to increase dispatch staff to 31 from the present 23, including five in training.
“I am excited. It’s been a long time coming,”
Gunn expressed.
Jim Woods contributed this report for the Post-Tribune.