Schererville Police Commissioners say they haven't decided whether to hire from within or to seek outside candidates for the town's next chief of police.

"We're still trying to get a grip on things here," commission President Pete Sormaz said.

The commission's regular meeting Thursday was less than 24 hours after the Town Council voted to remove David Dowling as police chief.

Town Councilman Tom Schmitt, who voted against Dowling's removal, asked the commission whether it input was sought or whether members knew of plans to remove Dowling.

Each commissioner either answered, "No," or shook his head, "No."

The Town Council doesn't need a recommendation from the Police Commission to remove a police chief, Commissioner Kevin Connelly said.

Schmitt, who served on the Schererville Police Commission for two years in the 1990s, said, although not required, it would have been proper for the Police Commission to make a recommendation.

"Being a former police commissioner, I find that kind of surprising, that a decision like this would be made without going through the Police Commission, because our present Town Council has been very proactive in letting the commissions do their job," Schmitt said.

The Police Commission on Thursday accepted interim Police Chief Dan Smith's recommendation to have Cmdr. Brian VanDenburgh serve as the interim deputy police chief. The decision needs to be approved by the Town Council.

The current deputy police chief is Dennis Zagrocki. The commission did not discuss what that recommendation means for Zagrocki's role in the department.

Patrolman Stephen Burton, president of Schererville FOP Lodge No. 170, said he hopes the Police Commission seeks an internal candidate to replace Dowling. An external search would be expensive, and the department could use that money elsewhere.

Interim Chief Smith is a past Schererville police chief.