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State Sen. Mike Young, R-Indianapolis, proposed that the state—through a governor’s appointee, a state-appointed board and the Indiana attorney general—take over law enforcement in the Mile Square in downtown Indianapolis. Is that a good idea? Five leaders weigh in. IBJ sent a request to the Senate Majority Communications Office seeking a column from Young, but the office declined.
After a mass shooting on July 4 weekend that left two juveniles dead, Indianapolis leaders changed course and began talking tough. But it took a hastily called press conference in which Gov. Mike Braun publicly chastised Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears for failing to act amid Indy’s well-documented crime woes while also shaming Mayor Joe Hogsett at the same time.
Outcomes matter, and both elected officials in charge of safety for Indiana’s capital city failed their latest performance evaluation by Braun and various legislators.
It’s no secret Indianapolis has been racked by five consecutive years of record levels of violence with repeat offenders emboldened by a soft-on-crime prosecutor and revolving-door courts.
Strangely, Mears responded to the governor’s criticism by blaming Indiana’s law-abiding gun owners and permit-less carry for juveniles illegally possessing guns and shooting people.
Yet while he and other politicians were distracted and running for cover, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief of Police Chris Bailey was free to take a firm stance and direct strict enforcement by his officers.
His direction was supported by trusted voices like the Rev. Charles Harrison and Ten Point Coalition, who stood alongside officers downtown.
The result: peace in the streets. Zero downtown shootings, deaths or curfew breakers.
Imagine that: A posture of strength, unity and consistency works.
Everyone is grateful for the wonderful women and men of IMPD who did what they always do when allowed to do it: back-to-basics policing.
This proves it can be done.
When accountability and consequences for criminal behavior are clearly articulated and understood, it works!
We needed no change to curfew or gun laws—just a willingness to enforce existing laws, lock people up when needed, and a message of swift and certain accountability.
The challenge now: Indy’s prosecutor and courts must back this play by closing the revolving door while making bed space in our juvenile detention center and jail.
Mears has a problem … and it’s not just us saying it.
Braun and legislative leaders have served notice that they are monitoring the prosecutor’s dereliction of duty and made clear the state has a vested interest in the affairs of our capital city.
Officers simply upheld existing laws, order was restored and peace was maintained downtown during a high-profile weekend when Indy was in the national spotlight.
How does Mears explain this? It’s gonna take more than the same old talking points that put politics over people.
Now is not the time for a return to the shadows to stand on a “no comment” response when asked tough questions about his position and performance.
Instead, it’s exactly the right time for the state to demand (order, if need be) the production of records on such underwhelming results from Mears.
We recommend the following data be requested, then verified and validated. Number of:
◗ arrests for crimes with guns made by police.
◗ arrests for crimes with guns “no-filed” by prosecutor.
◗ arrests for crimes with guns filed by prosecutor.
And of those crimes involving guns with charges filed, track these adjudication results:
◗ crimes with guns later dismissed.
◗ crimes with guns given a plea bargain.
◗ crimes with guns resulting in jury/bench trial convictions (without pleas) and number of “not guilty” verdicts.
◗ average days served in jail/prison for crimes with guns.
The prosecutor’s lack of action undercuts the proactive efforts of our police and shortchanges victims.
Facts matter, and now is the time to uncover them.•
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Snyder is president of the Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police, representing 3,000 law enforcement officers in Indianapolis-Marion County. Send comments to [email protected].
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Cudos to Senator Young. One of Mears’ latest decisions ended up with a violent, multi offense home detention subject simply cutting his leg bracelet and now being held on a brand new murder. If nothing else, Mears is simply not protecting the general public from convicted felons. It’s pretty simple. Hopefully Governor Braun will be successful in enacting similar steps for Indiana’s Capitol as the President has put in to action today in DC.
Rick is on the money, as usual! The police are doing their jobs, and the prosecutor and court system is not.