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Hoosiers throughout our state are learning the details of the tragic murder of Brett Scrogham, 23, who was shot and killed in a parking garage near the Indiana Convention Center while preparing to enjoy a baseball game at Victory Field.
Our heart aches for his family and friends. Nothing can erase the pain they feel, but justice for the perpetrator(s) must be certain and swift.
Politicians and city leaders will say this latest tragedy is unacceptable, but is it really?
Where are the local leaders in Indianapolis publicly demanding changes in the Prosecutor’s Office and judges’ chambers?
You can’t find them. Instead, they will clutch their pearls while pointing to so-called “root causes” and avoiding the root of the problem — failed political agendas, reckless experiments and half measures filled with injustices.
This is the time for action over activism, with a focus on outcomes versus overtures.
Have you ever noticed during large-scale events with national or international audiences that homeless encampments disappear, streets and sidewalks are cleaned, police officers are flooded into the streets, courts hold offenders in jail, low-level offenses are fully prosecuted and peace falls upon the downtown skyline? Why can’t the same be done for taxpaying residents and visitors from within our state on a full-time basis?
Instead, for more than half a decade now, our capital city has set consecutive records for homicides.
Was this murder a result of Indy’s revolving-door system? Time will tell.
Regardless, when someone murders another downtown during broad daylight on a weekday next to the convention center, it sends a clear message: Violent offenders do not fear consequences in Indianapolis.
Political spin can neither explain away repeated acts of violence sprinkled around Monument Circle nor the boldness of shooters, stabbers, robbers, rapists and looters actively operating around our sports-entertainment venues.
In previous public messages, the Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police has made it clear: All roads lead back to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office and Prosecutor Ryan Mears. His methodical blame game in the aftermath of the FedEx massacre, the shooting of an IMPD officer, multiple murders of domestic violence victims and his public refusal to prosecute declared emergency curfew orders in the middle of riots are only echoed now by carjackings, robberies and shootings moving into the doughnut counties.
Recently, Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam boldly brought attention to the lengthy rap sheet of a carjacking suspect in her city. She noted the suspect had 50 prior criminal charges, the vast majority within Indianapolis. She simply asked: Why was he out to victimize a family in her city? She said 57% of all arrestees in Carmel and 40% of all inmates in the jail in Hamilton County are Indianapolis residents.
Instead of acknowledging his lackluster work in Indianapolis, Mears publicly labeled Finkam as “disingenuous.”
Thankfully, the Indiana Statehouse took action, and now a constitutional amendment awaits Hoosier voters in this fall. The amendment allows for repeat violent offenders to be held without bond. Voters can help right the ship in our capital city and courts across Indiana by supporting this amendment.
But our collective work cannot end there.
Residents statewide must demand Statehouse intervention when a county prosecutor refuses to do his or her job and prosecute the laws of the state. Voter recall and Statehouse removal must be options for derelict county prosecutors. Additionally, special districts created by the Legislature with prosecutors appointed by the governor must also be incorporated into the capital city boundaries.
Such assertive steps will ensure equal protection under the law for everyone in Indianapolis.
Nothing can restore the latest downtown murder victim, Brett Scrogham, to his family and friends, but perhaps his death and his legacy will force Hoosiers to look in the mirror and act.
If not us, who? If not now, when?•
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Snyder is president of the Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge No. 86.
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The article makes a point that’s worth reflecting on: when the most serious crimes become the benchmark for concern, there’s a risk that smaller issues gradually become accepted as part of normal life.
That shift doesn’t happen overnight—it’s incremental. But over time, it can influence how people perceive safety, how businesses invest, and how communities grow.
From my own perspective, having spent time in nearby counties, I’ve seen how a clearer and more consistent approach to enforcement can shape expectations. In those environments, there’s less ambiguity about where the line is drawn. Even when that approach feels strict, it tends to create consistency in how rules are applied.
In Indianapolis, it sometimes feels like there’s a disconnect between enforcement and follow-through. Law enforcement plays a visible and important role, but the broader system needs to work in sync to be effective. When that alignment isn’t there, it can lead to frustration—for officers, for residents, and for those investing in the city’s future.
This isn’t about assigning blame or calling for extremes. It’s about clarity and consistency.
Establishing clear expectations for what behavior won’t be tolerated
Supporting law enforcement in doing their jobs effectively
Ensuring the legal process reinforces those standards
Communities tend to respond to the standards they experience.
Indianapolis has made meaningful progress over the years in building a vibrant downtown and attracting people and businesses. Continuing that momentum requires addressing challenges like this thoughtfully, with a focus on practical, common-sense alignment across the system.
Because ultimately, maintaining a strong, safe, and thriving city benefits everyone.