Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Randal Taylor announced Friday he will resign from his position at the end of the year.
In a video statement, Taylor said he had not been sure how much longer he would serve as chief, and that Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett decided to “go a little different route” after the two discussed his future with the department.
“And trust me, I have no animosity towards the mayor,” Taylor said. “I consider him a good man and a friend.”
In a statement, Hogsett called Taylor a “trailblazer”.
“...his nearly thirty years of service to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is a testament to his character, commitment to public service, and drive to make Indianapolis a safer city,” Hogsett’s statement reads in part.
Taylor said he will remain with IMPD for the next year and a half in a different role. He has been on IMPD’s force for 36 years, and served as chief for the past four.
Earlier this year, clergy members called for Taylor to resign. They cited issues with transparency and accountability for IMPD officers following instances of police violence.
There have been 18 police action shootings in Indianapolis in 2023, the highest yearly count since 2015.
Contact WFYI criminal justice reporter Katrina Pross at kpross@wfyi.org.
Pross is a Corps Member of Report for America, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project.