City Officials Emphasize Public Safety Efforts As Violence Surges

Indianapolis leaders provided a public safety update Thursday in the face of surging violence in the city.  

Homicides are up 39 percent over where they were last year in Indianapolis.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Randal Taylor said between the pandemic and  racial unrest, tensions are high.

"So it’s been a difficult few months in our community," Taylor said.

IMPD recently swore in a new class of recruits. Officials expressed commitment to other public safety measures underway in the city including an expanded number of police beats, focusing more resources in hot spots, and a safe housing program for victims of domestic violence and those experiencing homelessness. 

IMPD Assistant Chief Chris Bailey said the department has increased the number of beats from 78 to 106.

"We’re going to ask that our beat officers in the identified hot spot areas within their district, spend time community policing," Bailey said. 

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said everyone's help is needed to curb the violence. 

"I encourage more residents, more residents, more businesses, more houses of worship, more nonprofits to join the work of anti violence," Hogsett said.

The Mayor’s office also highlighted ongoing programs like the Safe Summer initiative and the Group Violence Intervention strategy.