Schererville board approves conditional hire, accepts resignation and promotes officer
December 04, 2025 | Schererville Town, Lake County, Indiana
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The Schererville Town Board approved a set of personnel actions during its meeting, including a conditional employment offer, acceptance of a reserve officer’s resignation and an internal promotion.
On an emergency-hire recommendation, the board voted unanimously to extend a conditional offer of employment to Joseph Thanos. Staff described Thanos as having approximately five years of law-enforcement experience in Anderson, Indiana, and about five years of military experience. The board thanked Bob O'Brien for participating on the interview panel.
The board accepted the resignation of Reserve Officer Bradley Gibson, who began reserve service on July 6, 2023 and is departing to take a position with IU Health Southern Indiana; the resignation was accepted by unanimous vote.
Members also approved promoting Brett Banstra to first-class patrolman effective Dec. 22, 2025, citing his hire date (Dec. 27, 2023) and completion of required probationary steps and supervisory recommendations; the motion passed unanimously.
Other personnel actions included a unanimous vote to approve the fire department’s vacation-rollover submissions for 2025 (to be forwarded to the town for final approval) and recognition of five employees for years of service: Ryan Abens (5 years), Phil Hager (10), Nick Richards (10), Wayne Swart (15) and Deputy Chief Dave Meyer (25).
Most motions were moved and seconded; the meeting record shows votes passed unanimously. Specific motion mover and seconder names were not legibly recorded in the transcript for several motions.
On an emergency-hire recommendation, the board voted unanimously to extend a conditional offer of employment to Joseph Thanos. Staff described Thanos as having approximately five years of law-enforcement experience in Anderson, Indiana, and about five years of military experience. The board thanked Bob O'Brien for participating on the interview panel.
The board accepted the resignation of Reserve Officer Bradley Gibson, who began reserve service on July 6, 2023 and is departing to take a position with IU Health Southern Indiana; the resignation was accepted by unanimous vote.
Members also approved promoting Brett Banstra to first-class patrolman effective Dec. 22, 2025, citing his hire date (Dec. 27, 2023) and completion of required probationary steps and supervisory recommendations; the motion passed unanimously.
Other personnel actions included a unanimous vote to approve the fire department’s vacation-rollover submissions for 2025 (to be forwarded to the town for final approval) and recognition of five employees for years of service: Ryan Abens (5 years), Phil Hager (10), Nick Richards (10), Wayne Swart (15) and Deputy Chief Dave Meyer (25).
Most motions were moved and seconded; the meeting record shows votes passed unanimously. Specific motion mover and seconder names were not legibly recorded in the transcript for several motions.
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