Group plans police museum

January 22, 2009
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Cop City IndianapolisTurns out the window message in an old warehouse across from Conseco Fieldhouse is teasing a proposed police museum. The interactive museum, dubbed Cop City, is a project of the not-for-profit Indianapolis Historical and Educational Foundation, said IMPD Lt. Roger Spurgeon, the group's president. The group agreed to lease 12,000 square feet from building owner CSX more than a year ago but still is working on getting the museum off the ground. It received seed money from the Pacers and is working on plans for a fundraising event. The museum would focus on education, and its public-safety themed exhibits would change on a quarterly basis, Spurgeon said. It may also include a cafe or small restaurant. Spurgeon would not provide a cost estimate for the project.
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  • This building would have made great lofts and or condos. I can't imagine the musuem taking up all of the floors.
  • hmmph.
  • Waste of space. Let me rephrase that ( I don't want to come across as anti-police).... waste of THAT particular space.
  • BOOOOO! It won't last (just like the superhero museum)
  • I believe Conrail still occupies part of the building. I was told that recently by a Conrail retiree. Correct, Cory???
  • When I read a reference to this a few days ago, I searched police museums, and I'll be darned if there aren't a few in large cities around the U.S. Interesting...
  • Pretty strange if anyone asked me... I can't imagine a whole bunch of people wanting to learn about the history of the police force. Sure, history is great and important to know in order to better understand how our future can take place, but still... it seems very odd to have a thing of this sort... Then again, it could be a great thing, because it could be well accepted by the community of downtown residents as well as tourists in a way that the city of Indy is becoming more diverse by being involved with new ideas. Then again, it could be looked as a goofy idea to people, because... it isn't EXCITING!!!!!! Historical and interesting, but nothing MAJORLY fabulous. I also think the building is great to have apartments. Downtown needs more apartments. Lower level retail... Get the idea?
  • Are they going to do ANYTHING with the exterior?
    Hell even some awnings or something.
  • Yeesh, put in an Applebees, or maybe a new facility for the huge expansion Angie's List is planning...uh, woops.
  • stooopid.
  • How amazingly stupid! We do not need a police museum in downtown Indy!!!
  • Why not? If somebody wants to make a police museum, why shouldn't they? How is this a bad idea?
    • oh, great use of space.


      NOT.

      cmon Dave.
    • At least it will be close to the Pacers so they can do research and keep up(ahead) of new police technologies.....
    • Not the best idea ever. But not the worst. At least its a use of space in a bad economy.
    • So...I just realized that by using a signature of my blog's url in my comments, I was being blocked by a spam filter. Made me feel like apologizing. In this day and age it seems there's nothing worse than being called a spammer.
    • There's already a police museum on E. 21st between Post and Franklin at the state police post. Indy needs two?
    • Why couldn't they have gone in to the old State Library building (Interim). I'm sure the city owns it and could work out a more favorable lease. It's closer to other museums and monuments, and would be a cool building for it near more foot traffic. This is going to be sad if it does last and all the other developments occurr in that area. Your going to have a nother dark block in the evening that will help people avoid walking in that are and underneat the tracks to the other side..........I give it two years MAX if it even gets off the ground.
    • Well since Gitmo will be closing soon, maybe we could house some terrorist. A terrorist museum, with interactive waterboarding and CIA tactics. I would pay $20-$30 to get a chance at waterboarding someone who wants to destroy our way of life.
    • Todd, I don't think an urban blog is the place to make such political comments.

      FYI, the old replacement library is actually the old city hall. It was built in the early 20th century and replaced a smaller(but vastly alike.) city hall a few blocks south. The old city hall has amazing interior work, and a Tiffany stained glass dome in the rotunda.
      They shouldn't disgrace that building with another specialized gallery or something. It should be government offices!
    • That's an interesting idea, Todd. Okay everyone, how much would you be willing to pay for the chance to torture someone who may (or may not) be guilty of terrorism?
    • I remember visiting that location when the old Indiana State Museum was at the old city hall. It was a great building on the inside, it reminded me of a court house with the dome.
    • I'm with thundermutt, they already have an ISP one on 21st on the far east side.
    • I'll wait to judge the idea until I actually see the thing. It could be a great little addition to downtown and bring some much needed energy to that dead building.

      I'd love to see that building come to life so I'll be optimistic about this for now. It would definitely make a nice residential building as well.
    • I like Todd's idea!
    • So-Crates:

      The building once housed the city hall, and the city - under peterson - was looking at turning it into the executive offices - Mayor, DMD Execs, Visitors center, etc. Also when Cale Bradford was presdining judge a few years back, they did a small study to ascertain its use as a judicial center, with some of the courts housed there.


      I think its all a moot point now as the city is basically broke and we have more pressing needs - like fixing the damn streets and curbs and sidewalks and police and education and a new Colts stadium and.... ;)
    • Yes, I think what we should do is just maintain it until we can find something to do with it.
      This city can't afford to demolish such an important building.
    • I don't know about the market, if it would be profitable, but the CSX building would make great loft apartments. The spaces could be rented or maybe even sold as raw space and then the tenant or owner could design the interior. As for the old city hall, it is one of the city's great historic buildings. I remember asking the library when they were planning to use it as the interim library if they could open the windows again. Of course we all knew they did not have the money for that improvement. To me it screams to be a courthouse and/or government building. I hope the city doesn't do anything to jeopardize its future use like demolition or using it incorrectly. Remember when the downtown mall was just a big hole in the ground for many years? Remember when the Indiana Theatre was a 3000 seat theatre? Then it was rehabbed to make smaller venues. When the city needed a larger theater, they rehabbed the Murat to add seats. I don't necessarily think these were good changes.
    • Da Hooey, if that was a Bill and Ted reference, you're my hero.
    • quick, somebody get in under contract for a new development. You could reuse it for 500+K condos! There's some racecar drivers who still haven't bought yet right?

      Seriously though, too bad someone couldn't pencil out a ground level retail and upper stories residential for rent product.

      oh well... I do hope the building gets new awnings.
    • I guess no one realizes that we have a police museum NOW.
      It's on the east side of town. . .nice, limited funds museum with
      some really good, gorey shots of John Dillinger on the walls.
    • STJFF - Hey, before you throw around that conclusive statement before we know whether they are guilty or not, check into the report that the guy from Gitmo that Pres Bush did release, Said Ali al-Shihri has emerged as the second-ranking Al Qaeda leader in the nation of Yemen.

      Instead, ask yourself this, should we be closing Gitmo at all? Is it in the best interests of security to the citizens of the US? I get the PR issue, but we better not have a new president flirting with the idea of letting them go or putting them on public trial!
    • isnt there a donut shop two blocks away........
    • bewickguy,

      I highly doubt anyone wants politics on an urban blog.
      It is simply not the place for it!
    • I would like to ask everyone to restrain from adding political comments to this blog, just as socrates@1 fan has above. This site is fun, interesting and enlightening just for what it is intended. With that said, viva real estate, restaurants, and all other good subjects that are not overtly political.
    • Hopefully they will have the video of the Rodney King beating on continuous loop.
    • me = hero
      berwickguy = not wanted


      :lol:


      i knew it would come down to this.
    • Hooey - cute, big guy! Perhaps they can consider a Hooey auxilliary museum.

      Socrates - I only brought this up as a response to a previous poster. I would not have done so otherwise. However, in truth, it is more security oriented than political. At least it should be, but then we know too many in the media tend to distort way too many things.
    • What's wrong with a police museum? Not my cup of tea, but it's something
      different that I could see people enjoying if done in an engaging, interactive
      way (that, perhaps, consolidated the collection of the existing museum). Not
      all downtown buildings need to be ground-level retail with condos/apartments
      (especially in an economy that can't support that kind of
      development).
    • Who's going to really visit this police station?! I doubt that even police would really care to visit.

      Put in a Pacers Pub, affordable condos, and / or office space.
    • really
      This will inevitably be funded by taxpayers so the police can slap each other on the back. By the way, they are going to sell booze out of that place superbowl week to raise money for the project. It doesn't even have a kitchen. Screw the ligit bar owners I guess. I am also pretty sure most of the money it makes that week will disappear also.

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    1. liek the rest of America

    2. These quaint,obsessed musings by the stalkers are certainly entertaining, but I'm trying to figure out what, if anything, all the yelping below has to do with Zak Brown.

    3. It's evident that Moffett was pushing the right buttons and corporate America is now trying to squash him. He just wanted to withdraw the free pilot services provided to the company by the pilots to try and put some pressure on a company that has not been interested in negotiating a contract in over 5 years. The company does not provide a contract because not having one has saved them a bundle of money. Shame on any Republic pilots not standing behind their union leader just because things are getting tough, can you not see such strategic moves by the company as putting the last union president in a corporate position and into THEIR pocket. Do you really believe the last union president is so appalled at the attempts by Moffett, do you not remember his oppositions to the company? We stood behind him. It has been proven over and over again for thousands of years without fail, a man cannot serve two masters. Anyone that believes people vote contrary to their paycheck and livelihood deserve to be taken advantage of, the recent statements by the former union president are laughable as he denounces the current union president from his new corporate position. Have you ever seen a drafted sports player score points for his previous team, it cannot be done, he is not on the pilots side anymore, he gets his money a different way now than you and I do, and he should not be allowed to remain on the seniority list. A drafted player brings strength, credibility, tactical knowledge, and a strategic advantage to his NEW team, he would not be drafted or paid were it otherwise. We are all forced to choose only one side to play for and support, not doing so has many references in life such as insider trading and shaving points, all illegal for good reason. This basic fact is why corporate moguls, scientist, and engineers all sign non-discloser agreements and non-compete clauses, as protection in case they are lured into switching sides as our former union president has done. No NFL coach ever drafted a player so that both teams could benefit and better understand each other, they are recruited to win the game against that former team, period. Likewise the company does not recruit the former union president by accident or mutual understanding, its strategy. Don't confuse playing the game with good sportsman-like conduct in support of common business and prosperity goals, with the requirement to only play for one side. Good men we all love and favor fall subject to this manipulation, often without their knowledge, and it is not a betrayal of their friendship to oppose them when they switch sides. If we did not love and trust them, they would not have been chosen and lured to the other side in the first place. The deception by the drafted player is not made at a conscious level, it's just human nature and it's all about money and power which corrupts our ability to be objective and loyal to two masters. This is why our court system created the defense attorney, and why our military created counter intelligence. Its strategy and its propaganda, and it works, and that's why the "powers to be" manipulate the chess pieces by sometimes changing their colors. Some players know they are being manipulated when their color is changed, but it brings them more money and power so they do not care. The rest have good intentions but do not even realize they are being manipulated. This tactic is also known by another name, Divide and Conquer. In battle sending an imperfect message with an imperfect team is obviously not ideal, but it's still being sent by YOUR team, your union leader, a leader that has common goals and common rewards with you, they are the best, because we have elected them to do a job for us. If you are not backing Moffett but believing the spin by those that have recently switched sides, you are taking food out of your own mouth. Showing unity and backing an imperfect situation still results in taking just as much ground, it's about unity and bargaining power. It's not necessary to wait around for that perfect attack because it will never come, the company will spin and attempt to destroy anyone that gets in their way. Ultimately it's not about any specific attack anyway, ASAP or whatever it makes no difference, it is and always has been only about power. If this company cared about safety it would not build pairings with 8 hour overnights, come on, are you that naive? Besides, do you really think Hoffa cares, no, he got a call from corporate America and was squeezed into denouncing Moffett. If he didn't they would spin the safety card against him and the Teamsters National with implication for truckers, future contracts, insurance rates etc...saying something like the Teamsters use safety as a bargaining chip, blah blah blah... Do you really think any pilot is going to do something unsafe for the contract, absolutely not, the only ones threatening safety here is the company with reduced rest, fatigue, and poverty. Do you not find it odd that Hoffa and the Teamsters are opposing a Teamster president publicly? Would the Teamsters National not normally support and work with one of their own? Why did they not sit down and help him strategize, correct any mistakes, and charge ahead? Would the Teamsters National not normally support and leverage a contract for all those pilots that have been paying Teamster dues, isn't that why we have all been paying Teamster dues in the first place? I sure haven't been paying dues so that the Teamsters National could come along and write this kind of an article undercutting our union leader and our unity. Whose side is the Teamsters National really on, it's obviously not the Republic pilots side.

    4. No matter what Moffatt does the company is going to spin it like he is the terrorist and brainwash people like you into believing it, wake up, back your players that are trying to change things for you and your livelihood. Where has Hoffa been for the last 6 years, except collecting our dues. Seriously, do you really think an FO going for upgrade, signed off by a checkairman ready for the upgrade, who then fails, is not even capable of returning as a First Officer.

    5. whoa!

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