Former Merrillville Police Chief Jerry McCory faces a charge of patronizing a prostitute.
The allegation against McCory, 56, is linked to charges announced Wednesday against an Indianapolis police officer accused of helping his wife run a prostitution ring from their suburban Indianapolis home, according to court documents.
Lake County Treasurer John Petalas - who served on the Merrillville Town Council when McCory was chief - said McCory seemed "very above board" as police chief.
"That's not the Jerry McCory I knew, if it's true," Petalas said.
Town Council President Ron Widing echoed Petalas' surprise.
"He ran a tight ship," Widing said.
"That shocks me."
A journeyman public safety official, McCory served as Merrillville's chief for more than 10 years before he left in the early 1990s. McCory has directed the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and advised former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson. He also led state commissions combating drug use and drunken driving. He most recently worked for the Marion County Sheriff's Department, but he left that job abruptly last week, according to the Indianapolis NBC affiliate.
Current Merrillville Police Chief Joseph Petruch worked with McCory.
"I'm sorry to hear about it," Petruch said.
Indianapolis police Officer Jeremy Lee faces a charge of aiding in promoting prostitution. According to court documents, Lee, 30, collected money from prostitutes hired by his wife, Lori Vernon-Lee, while wearing his police uniform. Arrest warrants were issued Wednesday for the couple and McCory.
According to an affidavit, Vernon-Lee, 36, is charged with five felony counts of promoting prostitution for allegedly operating the illegal escort service from home in the Indianapolis suburb of Greenwood.
It was not immediately clear whether any of the three were in custody Wednesday. A phone message seeking comment was left at a number listed under McCory's name.
Lee and Vernon-Lee could not be reached for comment because there was no listing for them.
Vernon-Lee allegedly recruited women to serve as escorts and then advertised their services in a weekly Indianapolis newspaper. When clients called Vernon-Lee's escort service, she allegedly would arrange for a meeting between client and one of the escorts during which money was exchanged for various sex acts. Each escort would turn over part of the money she collected -- typically about half -- to Vernon-Lee, the affidavit states.
