IMPD rolls out new technology funded by American Rescue Plan to help curb crime

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is rolling out new technology in hopes it will lower crime rates in the city.

The technology is part of $9 million in American Rescue Plan funding. It includes gunshot detection systems, license plate readers and public safety cameras.

“It’s helping our officers patrol neighborhoods more efficiently, it is helping detectives solve crimes, and it is helping hold those committing violent crimes accountable by acting as a digital witness in the courtroom. This kind of modern policing is what we need not only now, but for the future of the department and for the city,” said IMPD Commander Matthew Thomas in a news release.

To help facilitate the implementation of the new technology, the department is hosting community members in each of IMPD’s six districts to gather feedback.

Some of the technology, like the gunshot detection system, is costly. IMPD says it's working with Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis to determine if the technology should be continually funded.

The technology is one piece of Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett’s  $150 million violence reduction plan, which was announced in 2021 after the city saw record-breaking homicide numbers. In addition to the technology, the funding supports more IMPD and peacemaker positions as well as mental health resources.