INDIANAPOLIS – Mayor Joe Hogsett was recently joined by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Chief Randal Taylor and Director of Community Violence Reduction Shonna Majors to provide an update on 2020 public safety data as well as outline the City’s continued efforts to prevent and reduce violent crime in Indianapolis.
One of the key findings is that overall crime is down, but violence is up. Despite criminal homicides being up nearly 40 percent over this time last year, and non-fatal shootings up 24 percent, overall violent crime is down more than 9 percent, with overall crime down 11 percent. Unusual crime trends and spikes in violence are being seen in cities across the country as the COVID-19 pandemic impacts communities.
The city is implementing new efforts to combat crime in the city. Efforts include:
• Hot Spot Policing 2.0: Beat officers will be responsible for completing a community policing ‘dosage’ in any hot spot within their area of responsibility – spending a prescribed amount of time connecting with neighbors, on bike patrols, or in a visible, stationary position. Researchers have shown this increase in visibility and connectivity to prevent and reduce crime.
• Public education campaign: OPHS will utilize Radio One public affairs programming, radio spots, and digital assets to promote violence prevention programs and resources for those at risk.
• Domestic violence safe housing program: OPHS has partnered with the Domestic Violence Network to acquire funding for hotel stays, food vouchers, and advocacy services for individuals trapped in dangerous living situations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents can find domestic violence resources at DVNconnect.org.
In addition, the city has expanding policing beats, moving from 78 beats to 106, and shrinking the geographic area that officers are responsible for patrolling. Smaller areas of responsibility allow officers to build stronger relationships with residents and businesses in their beats. Residents can find their beat online at inmaps.indy.gov/impdbeatlookup.
After a recent shooting on the downtown Canal Walk, cameras are being installed by the City that will be part of B.Link Pro, which uses cloud technology to connect IMPD intelligence detectives with security camera systems in real time. More info can be found at blinkindy.org.
The city is also offering Safe Summer programs for youth for the second year, OPHS is providing free safe and productive alternatives to crime for youth during the summer.
The 2021 city budget is likely to include more funds for IMPD special violence mitigation units. The city also announced increased staffing in units focused on violent crime, including:
• CGIC, which analyzes crime gun evidence to link shooting events and build strong criminal cases against trigger pullers, will gain one new officer in addition to the four new officers assigned at the beginning of the year, bringing a 31% increase to IMPD staffing of the unit this year. So far in 2020, CGIC has led to the arrest of 129 violent individuals and the removal of 127 crime guns from the city.
• Two investigators will be added to the Homicide Unit, growing the department’s capacity to hold perpetrators accountable.
• The Violent Crime Unit (VCU), a specialty unit focused on covert investigations and warrant services for violent suspects, will grow by two officers.
