Mrvan visits East Chicago police chief after federal spending cuts

Technology upgrades were likely coming to at least eight Region police departments this year, thanks to federal funding proposals. But now, after last month's federal budget cut state and local law enforcement programs, those upgrades are unlikely to happen on the government's dime.

U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, met with East Chicago police chief Jose Rivera Tuesday afternoon to tour the police station and ride around town to learn more about the technology law enforcement in the city was utilizing and to see firsthand how a recent slash to a particular line item of the federal budget could impact police departments in the 3rd-term Congressman's district.

The visit came a month after Republican President Donald Trump signed House Bill 1968 into law following approval from the Republican-controlled House and Senate. The bill keeps the federal government funded — and open — through the end of September.

Mrvan, who voted against the resolution, previously called it "a legislative tragedy for Northwest Indiana that will strip away specific funding for public safety and economic development." He had applied for funding for specific projects at eight area police departments, including a $150,000 grant that would allow the East Chicago Police Department to purchase body-worn cameras for its officers.

Other proposed projects included nearly $2.8 million in federal funding to replace or upgrade radios and radio equipment and improve overall communication at the Crown Point, Dyer, Griffith, Schererville and Valparaiso police departments, according to Mrvan's office. Mrvan had also requested a total of $888,000 for the LaPorte and Hobart police departments for "equipment and technology" upgrades and for body cameras, respectively.

But last month's continuing resolution cut spending for state and local law enforcement programs by removing projects earmarked to go to various police departments, including the eight proposed projects in Northwest Indiana.

"The House majority has made Northwest Indiana less safe," Mrvan said in a speech on the House floor. "It is shameful that we have misled our local law enforcement agencies."

Rivera stopped short Tuesday of saying his department has felt misled by lawmakers in Washington but said the project would have filled a need when it comes to police technology in his city.

"Something like body camera footage is something that communities all over the country want their officers to have, but what they don't realize is the cost that it entails," Rivera said. "And I just think it's unfair to put that cost on the taxpayers here in the City of East Chicago."

Rivera has credited his department's cutting-edge technology with being the driving factor in the city's remarkable homicide decline and 100% homicide solve rate in 2024. Mrvan saw the city's ShotSpotter gunshot detection software, license plate readers, mobile cameras and the approximately 850 cameras citywide that have acted as proven crime deterrents.

East Chicago's four homicides in 2024 marked a 69% drop over a four-year period and the lowest in at least 12 years. Detectives "solved and charged" suspects in all four alleged killings.

"What (Chief Rivera) and the City of East Chicago is doing, it's a safer community with less manpower and more emphasis on technology, which makes the community safer (and) makes the parks safer," Mrvan said. "What I want to do as a member of Congress is make sure we deliver more resources to the City of East Chicago and chiefs throughout the district so that we can have a safer community."

Rivera told Mrvan the department will also need to replace its radios by 2027, a $500,000 initiative. Both men hope next year's federal budget will allow for it. If it's anything like the budget resolution approved last month, it likely won't.

"Communities like ourselves here in East Chicago, we rely on that type of funding," Rivera said. "Because without that type of funding, we have to now turn to the taxpayers, and the taxpayers are already taxed enough. So now, we're not only asking them to fund our department with their tax money, but now, to fund programs that can be funded by the federal government instead."

Mrvan said in his role as a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, he'll continue to fight for the same kinds of funding local police departments will miss out on this year. Mrvan is also on the subcommittee on commerce, justice, science and related agencies.

"That's something that I'm going to fight for," Mrvan said. "The (House and Senate) majority did not make public safety a priority when they stripped those types of grants or funding that was going back to local law enforcement. That's why I'm going to keep fighting for it."