A homegrown veteran police officer has officially become Merrillville’s top cop. Konstantinos (Kosta) Nuses was sworn in as Merrillville’s Police Chief during the Tuesday, July 25 Town Council meeting.
Nuses, who has served on the Merrillville Police Department since 2005, succeeds Wiley Luther Cuttino as Merrillville’s Police Chief. Nuses served as the Town’s interim police chief since January, while the Town Council searched for a new chief. “I’m going to do my best to make everybody here proud and serve the public the best I can,” said Nuses, a 1995 Merrillville High School graduate. “I’m a Merrillville resident, and I take great pleasure in serving the public here.”
Nuses was selected from a field of multiple candidates who were interviewed by the Town Council and Merrillville Police Commission.
“I am very excited to have Kosta Nuses as our new Police Chief,” Town Council President Rick Bella said. “I believe his ideas and leadership will be exactly what we need now in Merrillville.”
The Town Council, Merrillville officers, Merrillville clergy, the Merrillville Police Commission, and local Police Chiefs stood in support of Nuses as he was sworn in Tuesday. Crown Point Police Chief Ryan Patrick, Schererville Police Chief Pete Sormaz, Lake County Police Chief Vince Balbo, and Gary Police Chief Anthony Titus participated in the ceremony.
“I was also pleased to see other area Police Chiefs attend the swearing-in ceremony to show support from surrounding cities and towns,” Bella said. “Working together is certainly needed for today’s complex policing methods. Crime knows no borders.”
Nuses said his department is working on a variety of objectives to enhance safety in the Town. That includes studying traffic patterns to develop a creative and proactive approach to address speeding and reckless driving. Nuses said the Police Department will use data collected from digital speed limit signs and crash statistics to complete the analysis.
He said the Police Department is also collaborating with the Parks Department to use mobile cameras to monitor parks and prevent mischief and vandalism at the facilities. Nuses is also working with the Town attorney and other Merrillville officials to update and create new ordinances.
In addition to Nuses, Brycen Nylin was sworn in as Merrillville’s newest officer on Tuesday. Nylin will attend the Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy before he begins patrolling streets. – Rick Bella, Town Council President
