Det. Sgt. retires from police force
Jerry Gruett will serve on Valparaiso University police force
March 18, 1999 12:00 am
LAKE STATION -- Det. Sgt. Jerry Gruett retired from the Lake Station police force Wednesday, after 22 years on the force. Gruett has taken a position on the campus police force at Valparaiso
University, leaving 21 officers to serve on the Lake Station force.
"It's been a real honor to be here," Gruett said. "I've enjoyed working here
... (but) It's time to pass the torch on to younger guys."
Police Chief Jim Strine said Gruett's presence on the force would be missed.
"I'm sad to see him go. He is going to be deeply missed," Strine said. "I've
never heard him say a bad word about anybody. "
"He has given 200 percent his whole 22 years here. He goes the extra length in
everything he's done."
Gruett said that in June 1998, he had a run-in with Kevin Dean, the Gary man
who recently shot and killed Chicago police officer James Camp. That day,
officers located Dean after he stole a car from Portage. Dean had fled from the
car after officers blocked him at a stop light. Gruett, in plain clothes, had
tried to subdue him. Dean had twice tried to take Gruett's gun before Gruett
and another officer subdued him.
The day after Camp was killed, someone reminded Gruett that Dean was the man
with whom he had had a run-in. Since then, Gruett has spoken with those
investigating Dean, and may have to testify in a trial.
"It was eerily similar," Gruett said. "My heart goes out to the Chicago police
and to Camp's family."
To help make up for Gruett's departure, the police department has hired a new
officer, Shannon Hamara, who began working in the department this week.
Hamara, a Lake Station resident, is a graduate of Edison Junior-Senior High
School. He has worked in the New Chicago Police Department and as a millwright.
"We're really excited to have Shannon coming aboard," Strine said. "We like
having new guys come in to energize the older guys."
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