SCHERERVILLE | The request for Police Chief David Dowling to resign has been rescinded.

Councilmen Rob Guetzloff and Tom Schmitt said Tuesday that Council President Hal Slager withdrew his request. Guetzloff and Schmitt confirmed last week that Slager had asked Dowling to resign.

"That's good news," Schmitt said. "It really started an uproar in town we didn't need."

Neither Slager nor Dowling have commented on any of their discussions regarding the latter's position as chief.

Dowling again declined to comment Tuesday. A call to Slager wasn't immediately returned.

Guetzloff and Schmitt -- the two Democrats on the council -- said they suspected Slager was playing politics.

Slager is president of the first Republican-controlled Town Council that Schererville has had, and Dowling is chairman of the St. John Township Democratic Party.

Guetzloff said he was pleased with the decision to withdraw the request but wary of the motivation behind it. He said he wonders whether Slager realized the value of Dowling as chief and listened to objections from his constituents, or whether this is a temporary solution.

"I hope this isn't a short-time thing to settle everyone down for now," Guetzloff said.

The Town Council, with three Republicans and two Democrats, appeared to have been working well the first six months together.

Guetzloff said that relationship now is strained, but Schmitt doesn't believe the disconnect is permanent.

"We should be able to move past it and keep working together," he said.