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Gov. Mike Braun on Wednesday doubled down on a threat of state intervention in Indianapolis if Mayor Joe Hogsett and Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears don’t make impactful changes to the city-county’s justice system in response to recent youth violence in downtown.
“This is just the clarion call to do something different,” Braun said of the violence and local officials’ responsibility. “This is your jurisdiction.”
He said the city’s “dereliction of responsibility and duty” could force the state to intervene, though he would not specify what that intervention would be.
The Republican governor’s statements came on the heels of a string of shootings involving youth in the city’s core, including one on July 5 that killed two minors, and just before Indianapolis hosts WNBA All-Star Weekend.
Indiana State Police will be deployed for the weekend at a level that Braun spokeswoman Molly Craft said is “above and beyond normal ISP activity.” It is not unusual, however, for state police to contribute patrols during large events in the state’s capital city.
Still, Braun used the ISP’s work in downtown Indianapolis, at IMPD’s request, to argue that Indianapolis officials—and specifically those in the Prosecutor’s Office—are “not doing the job.”
“I think the prosecutor has not taken up cases that the police bring to them,” Braun said.
Braun did not name Mears, a Democrat in his second term as prosecutor, but used his title. When asked specifically where he sees a lack of strict enforcement, Braun told a reporter he was “not going to go into details of that.”
Michael Leffler, a spokesman for the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, said in a statement that the agency is committed to “actively prosecuting violent crime.”
He said just this week Marion County judges had sentenced five people to “significant sentences” in murder cases, while prosecutors filed five additional murder charges and charged seven other people who were downtown during the Fourth of July weekend. In all, he said, 11 people have been charged in connection with that shooting, which also left five people injured.
“Prosecutors and our law enforcement partners in Marion County will continue to focus on our community—not on politics,” Leffler said.
In response to Braun’s critiques, Hogsett said in a statement that his administration is “laser focused on ensuring that those who enjoy our downtown this weekend, next weekend and in the future are safe.” The administration is also adding tools to support law enforcement in the effort, he said.
For example, the Indianapolis City-County Council is considering a proposal for a stricter curfew. Police, in coordination with the city’s Office of Public Health and Safety, also announced on Wednesday that the department would escort juveniles breaking the curfew to a “safe and secure” space where they could be unified with parents or guardians. City leaders have said a proposal is in the works that would restrict late-night food trucks and street vendors.
Hogsett also pointed to the city’s declining number of criminal homicides and non-fatal shootings. The city had a record-high of 271 criminal homicides in 2021, but the numbers have declined since.
“Our gun violence reduction strategy is saving lives,” Hogsett said in the statement.
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Does anybody really believe that the Democrats think law and order is important?
I think Eric Adams sucks but New York City has the lowest violent crime rate in the country. Violent crime has been on a consistent slide, nationally, from 2022 on. This included year-over-year declines in Indianapolis, too.
Your tropes are false, tired, and worn out. Find a new bad-faith talking point to regurgitate.
When news of this reaches Hogsett in his bunker, he’s not going to be happy.
The Democratic council supermajority and mayor could indicate a modicum of seriousness about addressing downtown chaos and lawlessness by repealing the idiotic Homeless Bill of Rights.
And then reopen Larue Carter mental hospital. Oh wait … they gave that away. Insane, self-owning conduct by our “leaders.”
Compassion for everyone except law-abiding citizens.
The mental hospital was owned by the State, not the City, and was closed by Republicans.
Come on, buddy.
A R.
It was actually closed in 1994 by Gov Even Bayh, a Democrat. A moderate Democrat in todays terms but a Democrat none the less.
All good points. It’s a bipartisan, city-state combo-screwing of the voting public.
Hogsett and Mears are a joke. I will change my opinion of Hogsett if he delivers on the MLS team in the next week. Sorry Mears, nothing can change my opinion about you. Unless, of course, you start enforcing the law instead of writing the law. But, then again, I’m not sure you know what the law is.
Good for Braun. He’ll look foolish when this accomplishes nothing, and prove that Republicans don’t know how to control crime either.
Braun is blind to the fact that changes at the state level is fueling some of this rise and crime. Permitless carry for anybody over 18 has to be fueling some of this because IPD used to arrest 18 year olds carrying guns downtown without a permit and that tool has even been taken away from them.
Show the evidence that permit-less carry is causing crime! Show the data!!
Republicans do know how to control crime…look at the surrounding counties to Marion and compare crime rates!! indiana needs to take over prosecutorial control and judicial control from the Dems in Marion County….or just let all the people get killed! The Dems are the party of violence and death!
Other states that dud permitless carry many years before Indiana had a gradual increase in gun violence over several tears before things settled down at a new normal with about a 10% increase overall.
The results are/were predictable.
John – the CoP for the State Sheriffs help a press conference and discussed exactly this with data – feel free to google that if you would like?
Keep that racist facist out of the city.
Too late. They were already elected in 2023.
Mears has always had the ‘mind’ of a public defender instead of a prosecutor. That’s why Hog—— selected him. Economically, the big picture is the city ‘rep’ regarding downtown investment, the $ lifeblood of an otherwise average city. If things get measurably worse…….so will the future of conventions and a lot more.
Actually he and Hogsett DO NOT get along, they never have. The Mayor had nothing to do with the selection. Mears’ predecessor, Terry Curry, died and the Democratic Party close him to replace Curry.
Braun is an empty suit. Big difference between “could” and “will” intervene.
Hey, an obvious solution is to allow permitless carry to 14 year-olds and up. That way they can defend themselves. (sarcasm).
Oh wait, allowing everyone nearly unlimited access to guns is one of the things that’s gotten us here. Maybe that’s the wrong solution.
Hey Dan….I thought you leftists claim that violence in Indy is “down” since permit-less carry has been the law. By the way, genius, that’s a state law. Surrounding counties to Marion are not the killing field that you seem to love in Marion Co. Wonder why???
Hey John, Ever think about population density or is that math too complex for you? Lots of Republican led cities don’t seem to have a handle on crime. Oklahoma City, Jacksonville, Fresno – just to name a few.
Density? Hamilton county currently has 47% of Marion’s population with 6% of the reported homicides. The ‘prosecution’ problem Braun is highlighting isn’t the conviction rate….it’s the multiple time convicted that are sent home with a poorly, unreliable leg signaling device. Remember, it’s the $. Mears, if you recall, was the guy that confiscated a cash payment that was in transit cross country while sitting at FedEx. A legitimate jewelry transaction that required an another judge to make his office fork it over to the rightful customer. He’s underperformed and now it’s likely he’s been padding his pocket all along.
Just stop it. This world needs another racist yes-man trying to appear tough like a feckless yes-man needs a bicycle.
It seems like this response.is a direct result of the comments made by the head of the police union. He made a call to get “the state” involved without offering any solutions. It seemed like a purely political move. Kudos to the head of the police unionfor getting the spin cycle running.
Maybe ICE agents need to target American youth violence in our cities instead of innocent immigrants.
How about holding parents accountable for their children?
If Mr Braun really cares about Indianapolis (he doesn’t even live here) he might demonstrate it by allocating the tax money diverted from the residents of Indianapolis to fix its roads, especially since Republicans are now touting a budget surplus. The “rainy day fund” never seems to be used to fill the rain-filled potholes caused by Republican incompetence.
Instead, Herr Braun expresses frustration about crime caused by the guns Republicans adore and suggests the State should take over (because Mikey is an authoritarian like his mentor, pedophile Epstein’s “best friend” Donald Trump).
All the police will not solve the issue as it is one that literally begins in the home with the parents and guardians who either cannot or will not parent these youth. Secondly, more police downtown will only push the problem to wherever the buses take them; i.e. Greenwood and Castleton Square Malls. Until cultual changes are made, and the parents of these youth stop defending the bad behavior there will no be any changes. Seems that since 2020 certain factions believe they have carte blanche to behave in any manner they wish with impunity
I hope they come to Greenwood. The reception they receive will be shocking. Police and Prosecutor actually put 18 y/o’s in prison.
+1
yep..and what about those police, Mr. Braun? Funny how they are not called to task..they are the ones patrolling the streets to allegedly keep us safe and arresting people…except for those who can now carry guns at will…
You mean sitting in their cars hiding in dark parking lots not actually patrolling?
Great! The folks responsible for passing open carry laws – over the strong objection of law enforcement – are going to fix the violence problem?
I’m no fan of our absentee mayor, but the last thing we need is our authoritarian wannabe governor sticking his nose in city business (again).
Agreed, but we need a thorough review and updating/cleaning up/reinforcing the laws on the books. THEN we need to have the violators (and their parents) prosecuted.
Parents need to be held responsible.
Maybe Braun should try to explain to the Indiana residents what happened to the billion dollar surplus that the Republicans have bragged about for years. No one ever discusses this surplus. The Governor should also address the lack of maintenance at the State Capitol complex, obviously budget issues contribute this maintenance issue.
I think we need to bring back formal criminal gangs. They could “police” their members, and make sure there were no more of these shooting incidents. Used to be Indy had concerts and big events downtown, and there wasn’t the crime we see now. In part, I recall, because the gangs worked with the police to make sure it didn’t happen.
by the, that’s a joke son…sarcasm…
It is time to act. 90% of the crime is committed by 5% of the population. This is a known fact. Stop the stupidity. Let the Police do their job and get them help so this can get addressed now. You are killing the city. Stop it.
The one redeeming quality is the proposal uses some of the taxes currently ear-marked for the sports venues (used by billionaire owners and millionaire pro athletes) to increase the police presence in these areas. A portion should also be dedicated to the homeless problem rather than the current proposal to levy an additional tax on the mile square residences and businesses.