Schererville Board of Safety approves hires, promotions and certifies promotional lists; recommends more police floating holidays

The Schererville Town Board of Safety on May 7 approved multiple personnel actions, including five part‑time hires for the fire department, certification of promotional registers for police corporal and sergeant, and time promotions for two firefighters.

Fire Chief Robert Patterson presented candidate materials and said applicants were vetted with interviews, background checks and driving‑record reviews. He confirmed one applicant identified in the packet, Taylor, is currently a stay‑at‑home parent but previously served with ambulance services and volunteer fire departments and holds Firefighter I certification and a current EMT license. Chief Patterson said candidates who are paramedics without fire experience would be assigned primarily to ambulance shifts and could pursue firefighter certification later.

The board voted unanimously to approve hiring five part‑time employees (three firefighter/EMTs and two paramedics), with the motion carried without recorded dissent. Chief Patterson also requested approval of two time promotions (entry level to third class firefighter/EMT for Michael and Jack Scanland); the board approved those promotions unanimously and authorized moving paperwork to town hall for final processing.

Police Chief Pete Sarmas presented the 2026 promotional registers for corporal and sergeant, saying written and oral components were complete. He recommended the board certify the registers so the lists would be effective through May 7, 2028 if approved. The board voted to certify both lists unanimously.

On compensation matters, Chief Sarmas asked the board to recommend that the Town Council review and increase the number of floating holidays for sworn officers. He asked to add six holidays (bringing current floating holidays from eight up to 14). A board member asked that town administrative staff (Mr. Gorman and his team) prepare a comparison across departments so the Council would have fiscal and policy context. The board approved forwarding the recommendation to the Town Council unanimously.

The meeting adjourned after routine reports and a brief public comment from a person identified as Scott. The board also noted a recruit graduation at Valparaiso University and announced the police memorial scheduled for May 11.