Officials Call For More Police Officers In Merrillville, Ind.
MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (CBS) -- A high-profile murder in Merrillville, Ind., has some officials thinking more police are needed in their town.
As WBBM Newsradio's Bernie Tafoya reports, some government leaders in Merrillville are starting to get behind an effort for a property tax increase in order to pull in enough money to hire more police officers, the Northwest Indiana Times reported.
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The tax increase referendum would be on the November ballot.
Merrillville Clerk-Treasurer Eugene Guernsey tells the Northwest Indiana Times the police department is understaffed.
The move comes days after a robbery and shooting at the Lucky Food Mart, at 5695 Cleveland St. in Merrillville, which left clerk Judi Simpson-Beaver, 48, dead.
The robber hit up the store on Sunday afternoon. Police said Simpson-Beaver complied with his demands, but he killed her anyway.
Police also said they are questioning several other people in connection to the robbery. Two other men were seen with Blue in the getaway car.
Detectives said they still haven't recovered the gun, the mask, or the jacket allegedly used by Blue in the robbery. But they said they do have the getaway car used in the crime, which belonged to Blue and is being processed for evidence.
