(Michigan City, IN) - There’s a new police chief today in Michigan City. Steve Forker, a 17-year member of the department, has officially taken over, replacing outgoing chief Dion Campbell. 

 

Mayor Duane Parry on Friday announced he was replacing Dion Campbell. Parry cited continued high gun violence as the reason for replacing the chief.

 

At last night’s Michigan City Common Council meeting, Councilman Bryant Dabney said Campbell did many good things to address crime that the mayor did not mention in his announcement. However, Dabney also felt Campbell took much of the blame.

 

“Hopefully, with the things that we have in place that are coming, we do start to curb some of the gun violence. Just like I worked with Chief Campbell before, I will continue to work with our new leadership as well,” Dabney said.

 

Councilman Don Przybylinski also defended Campbell. Przybylinski said the strategies he believes were put into place by the former chief to try and reduce crime should have been given more time to determine if they were successful before deciding to replace him.  

 

Przybylinski also wished Forker and the new members of his leadership team well in their new duties.

 

“Hopefully, you gentlemen will be able to turn things around,” Przybylinski said.

 

Parry was also criticized for failing to notify members of the city council right away of his decision.

 

“I was also embarrassed in regards to how we heard of it. I heard of it from a friend out in the county. It wasn’t professionally done,” said Councilman Gene Simmons.

 

Simmons was the Michigan City Police Chief from 1996 to 2004.

 

Forker is a 1999 graduate of New Buffalo High School.