About Jason Gore

Jason Gore is a husband, father, and newly retired Federal Agent of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) where he rose in ranks over the last 20 years.

Born and raised in the region, he began his award-winning 27-year law enforcement career as a Merrillville Police Officer & Detective.

From humble beginnings, Jason is proud to have an exemplary career marked with integrity, earning Top Secret Security Clearance in the U.S. and most recently putting him as the ATF On Scene Tactical Commander at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Jason believes there’s a better way to improve public safety and Lake County’s future, and it’s not falling back on what’s been done before.

Explore Jason’s credentials and achievements below or read his plan for Lake County.

Jason’s Career

2004 - 2025

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)

  • Assistant Special Agent in Charge

  • Resident Agent in Charge

  • Special Agent

1998 - July 2004

Merrillville Police Department

  • Officer/ Detective

  • Led and managed seven criminal enforcement and intelligence groups covering a combined 100 counties in northern Indiana and northern Illinois, overseeing Special Agents, Task Force Officers, clerical staff, and support personnel throughout the Chicago Field Division

  • Oversaw numerous undercover operations and led multiple Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, (RICO) criminal investigations and complex federal conspiracy drug trafficking, firearms trafficking and murder cases.

  • Investigated and perfected criminal cases against individuals and organizations violating federal firearms, explosives, and arson laws.

  • Served as case agent on five individual Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, (RICO) cases against criminal street gangs, solving approximately 45 unsolved gang homicides and achieving the conviction of over 80 gang members.

  • Served as Deputy Commander of the Northwest Indiana Major Crimes Task Force, leading 60 investigators from Lake and Porter Counties to investigate multiple high-profile criminal cases.

  • Task Force Officer (TFO) DEA HIDTA. Assigned to investigate middle and upper-level drug traffickers and drug trafficking organizations.

Jason’s Achievements

Awards

  • 2023 National HIDTA Award.

  • 2023 U.S. Department of Justice Directors Award.

  • 2017 Nominee for the Nation’s Top Cop Award.

  • 2017 Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Directors Award.

  • 2015 United States Attorney General’s Exceptional Service Award.

Education & Training

  • Master of Public Administration, University of Phoenix

  • Bachelor's Degree in Sociology, Minor in Criminal Justice, Purdue University Northwest

  • International Associations of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Executive Leadership in Police Organizations, 2018.

  • Leadership and Command, U.S. Army War College, 2023.

  • Leadership Skills for New Supervisors, 2018.

  • Control and Arrest Techniques (CAT) Instructor Certification, 2011.

  • ATF Complex Investigation Training, 2010.

  • Criminal Investigators Training Program (CITP), 2004.

  • ATF Special Agent Basic Training Program (SABT), 2004.

  • Indiana Law Enforcement Police Academy, 1998.

  • Certified Control and Arrest Techniques (CAT) instructor and subject matter expert.

  • Instructor at the International Law Enforcement Academy located in El Salvador, instructing law enforcement officers and prosecutors from South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

  • Instructor of Organized Crime and Gang Investigations.

Special Assignments

  • 2024 ATF On Scene Tactical Commander - Democratic National Convention

  • 2023 Led efforts to develop Crime Gun Intelligence Centers, (CGIC)

  • Subject matter expert for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, (RICO) and organized crime investigations.

  • Established three new National Integrated Ballistic Information Networks, (NIBIN) Laboratories in Indiana and Illinois.

  • United States Top Secret Security Clearance.