SCHERERVILLE | Elected officials on both sides of the controversy involving Schererville Police Chief David Dowling are calling the matter unfortunate.

"This whole thing is unfortunate," Town Council President Hal Slager said Friday.

Two days earlier, during a contentious Town Council meeting, Councilman Perry Ferrini said it was unfortunate and sad how the situation was handled, something echoed by Councilman Rob Guetzloff.

Ferrini was referring to the way the matter was made public, but Guetzloff was referring to the way Dowling was asked to resign.

In late June, Slager met with Dowling privately and asked him to resign. He later rescinded the request, Guetzloff and Councilman Tom Schmitt confirmed.

The matter had played out in the newspaper until Wednesday's Town Council meeting, when it came up in the public comment portion of the meeting.

And that's when everything was aired.

During the discussion, Ferrini asked how the conversation between Dowling and Slager was made public.

"I called the press because I felt betrayed by Hal," Guetzloff said.

Ferrini asked how anyone would know what happened in the meeting between Slager and Dowling. Guetzloff said he had talked to Dowling about it.

"Come on Perry, what is this, rocket science?" he said.

Guetzloff said he wanted to move forward and get the council back on track.

Ferrini pointed out that the council unanimously approved the agenda items during that meeting, a sign of the council working together.

Guetzloff said he still was serving the people but he didn't want to go on without knowing whether Dowling would be chief for another month or another six months.

Republicans Slager, Ferrini and Jerry Tippy voted against giving Dowling a three-year contract, a motion that Guetzloff, a Democrat, made and Schmitt, also a Democrat, seconded.

No town employee has a contract.

Slager, who has not commented on the Dowling matter citing personnel issues, said Friday that he has always gotten along with Dowling and there isn't anyone else in mind for his job.

"No, we have not looked for anyone else," he said.

Schmitt said he doesn't believe in changes in public safety, especially not in the middle of the year.

Guetzloff said the Dowling matter won't derail the council.

"We were elected by the town to represent them, and this is not going to stop us from making decisions that need to be made," he said.

He said the lesson to learn from the whole situation is that the council needs to openly communicate.