Gary Police Department, ATF, and U.S. Attorney’s Office announce significant drop in violent crime
On December 17, 2025, Gary Police Chief Derrick Cannon, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana M. Scott Proctor, and Lake County Prosecutor Bernard A. Carter jointly announced reductions in violent crime in the City of Gary.
The decline in violent crime includes continued decreases in the number of homicides and non-fatal shootings, coupled with a substantial increase in the number of federal prosecutions targeting the most violent offenders.
From January through December 2025, the City of Gary saw a 22.8% reduction in non-fatal shootings, decreasing from 123 in 2024 to 95 in 2025. During the same period, homicides declined by 36.8%, dropping from 38 in 2024 to 24 in 2025.
Collaborative law enforcement strategies led to a nearly 41.4% increase in firearms recovered from violent offenders, rising from 261 in 2024 to 369 in 2025. National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN)data shows that a significant number of recovered firearms are linked to violent crimes that took place in the Gary area.
“Building a safer Gary has been our administration’s top priority, and a 36% drop in homicides proves that our focused, collaborative approach is saving lives,” said Mayor Eddie Melton. “While our work is far from over, these numbers signal a new chapter of peace and stability for our families and neighborhoods.”
“The 22% reduction in shootings and the seizure of over 300 illegal firearms demonstrate the effectiveness of our partnership with federal agencies like the ATF,” said Gary Police Chief Derrick Cannon. “We are aggressively targeting violent offenders and removing the tools of violence from our streets, making it clear that those who threaten our community will be held accountable.”
Partnership with ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Indiana
Enhanced collaboration between Gary Police Department, ATF, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and other law enforcement partners also led to a 25% increase in the number of federal firearms prosecutions during 2025.
“Gary is one of the great American cities. It has a storied past as one of the country’s premier industrial towns, and it has a bright future at the heart of northwest Indiana’s continued revival,” said Acting U.S. Attorney M. Scott Proctor. “As the recent statistics make plain, neither the U.S. Attorney’s Office nor its partners will allow violent criminals to threaten that future. I am proud to be in this fight alongside such partners as the Gary Police Department and the ATF. Together, we will continue to bring the full force of the criminal law down upon anyone who uses firearms to commit illegal and violent crimes against the people of Gary.”
“The partnership between ATF, the Gary Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office has enabled us to jointly target the most violent offenders who seek to drive violence in the City of Gary,” said ATF Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon. “The reduction in violent crime, along with the increase in federal firearms prosecutions and firearm recoveries from violent offenders, underscores not only that our joint strategy is working, but also the strength of our partnerships.”
“These results demonstrate what is possible when local, state, and federal partners work together with a shared mission,” said Lake County Prosecutor Bernard A. Carter. “By identifying violent offenders early, sharing intelligence, and holding them accountable through both state and federal prosecutions, we are making meaningful progress toward a safer Gary. This coordinated approach sends a clear message that violent crime will not be tolerated in our community. We will continue collaborating with the Gary Police Department, ATF, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to strategically focus on the most dangerous offenders and remove illegal firearms from our streets, strengthening safety and stability throughout the city of Gary.”
Gary Police Department, ATF, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office emphasized that while these numbers are encouraging, there is more work to do. In 2026, the Gary Police Departmentwill continue to work with the ATF, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office as well as continue to leverage NIBIN to link firearms to trigger pullers quickly. Through collaborative law enforcement strategies and partnerships, the City of Gary remains fully committed to reducing violent crime and ensuring the city remains a safe place for all residents and visitors.
