Gary Mayor-Elect Eddie Melton Names New Police, Fire Chief

December 16, 2023

GARY — Mayor-elect Eddie Melton has named new leadership for the city's police and fire departments, replacing chiefs who served in their respective roles for less than six months. The city's new police chief will be Derrick Cannon Sr., a 24-year veteran of the Gary Police Department. Cannon will replace Anthony Titus who was named police chief at the end of June.

Larry Tillman II will be the city's next fire chief. Tillman is an 18-year-veteran of the department and is currently president of the Gary Firefighters Association Local 359. Tillman will replace Mark Terry, who took over as fire chief at the beginning of August.

Cannon once served as deputy police chief and is the department's current captain of the Uniform Services Bureau. Cannon is also a federal law enforcement task force officer and earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Indiana University Northwest. His predecessor, Titus, became chief after a nine-month nationwide search and a 1½-year partnership with the Indiana State Police. During Titus' summer appointment ceremony, current Gary Mayor Jerome Prince said he and Deputy Mayor Trent McCain realized that the city needed to address weaknesses within the structure of the department before appointing a new chief. They called Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas Carter and in April 2021 announced that the agencies would be partnering.

NWI Times : https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/gary/gary-mayor-elect-eddie-melton-names-new-police-fire-chief/article_eeb589c2-9acf-11ee-befe-6b620f0fe999.html

February 23, 2026
Citywide Blight Blitz: Mayor Melton and Volunteer Contractors Mark 3 years of Partnership with a Coordinated Campaign to Clear Unsafe Homes and Spark New Growth.
February 20, 2026
Citywide Blight Blitz: 60 Structures. 5 Neighborhoods. One Massive Cleanup.
February 6, 2026
Gary Police Department Reports Continued Decline in Violent Crime and Major Gains in Investigations in 2025; Homicide Rate Lowest Since 1970
February 3, 2026
Mayor Eddie Melton and Gary Common Council Announce $3 Million Transformation of Brothers’ Keeper Shelter
January 30, 2026
City of Gary Activates Winter Response Plan Ahead of Weekend Storm
More Articles >>