Southport holds town hall to discuss impact of reserve officer bill

SOUTHPORT, Ind. – The city of Southport came together to discuss a proposal that could limit the authority of reserve police officers. 

Several police departments across the state have voiced opposition to House Bill 1186, which comes at a time when many are struggling with staffing.

Southport Police Department leaders said the goal of Tuesday’s town hall was to educate the community about the proposal’s impact and explore some potential solutions.

Broadly speaking, the bill would prevent officers without certain training from exercising full powers while off-duty or outside their jurisdictions.

Smaller town and cities are concerned it would create another hiring hurdle, putting community safety at risk.

Southport, for example, relies on 25 reserve officers and employs just three full-time officers.

Police Chief Tom Vaughn said his department took more than 200 reports outside the Southport jurisdiction and made more than 100 arrests last year.

The department is on track to outpace that in 2025.

“So, if you add all those numbers up, that’s runs IMPD would have to take if we can’t leave,” Vaughn said during Tuesday’s town hall. “If they’re already struggling to take the runs they have now, how are they going to do that?”

“I’m really concerned about what that means, not only for the city of Southport, but also for Marion County, which I’m part of,” said Heather Newport, a Southport resident.

Tamara Watson, a former state trooper, argued the one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t account for the varying needs of different municipalities.

Watson holding the town hall was essential to raise public awareness about the bill and its potential impact.

“There is a way we can change it,” Watson said. “It’s going to take everyone—that’s why I had Chief Vaughn here host this meeting.”

House Bill 1186 passed the Indiana House of Representatives and has been referred to the Senate.