(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Hammond Common Council approved Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr.’s plan to close the city’s three dozen gas stations during the overnight hours to deter crime.
McDermott said during Monday night’s meeting that there have been more than 1,800 police calls for service calls at the 16 of the city’s 24-hour gas stations since 2019. He added that those take officers away from protecting the city.
“This is our job, council, this is the stuff we gotta do,” he said. “Make tough decisions for the safety of our residents.”
Gas stations could petition to stay open between midnight and 5 a.m. if they meet certain requirements, including connection of real-time surveillance video to the police department, security on site and improved lighting.
They’d have to make their case during a public hearing, but multiple owners raised concerns about a confusing petition process.
One said that if Hammond was going to go ahead with this, then officials should just shut them all down during the overnight hours, rather than letting some stay open.
The measure passed on a vote of 7 to 2.
McDermott said if the gas station owners sue, then the City will win.
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