Indianapolis Crime Gun Efforts Expand

An operation to track crime guns is expanding to include collaboration throughout central Indiana.

The new Indiana Crime Guns Task Force will replace the Indianapolis Crime Gun Intelligence Center to cover eight central Indiana counties. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said the expansion makes sense.

“Violent crime and illegal gun transactions do not stop at the Marion County line,” Hogsett said.

The partnership brings together local and state law enforcement, prosecutors and federal officials to seize guns from violent criminals. Since its launch in 2019, the Indianapolis gun center has confiscated more than 700 guns.

IMPD Assistant Chief Chris Bailey said the operation uses technology and intelligence to identify firearms and the people who use them.

“Those who have shown they are not afraid to pull the trigger and traumatize our neighborhoods and injure our neighbors,” Bailey said.

A bill passed by the state legislature earlier this year helped establish and fund the new effort with a $10 million allocation.

Counties in the collaborative include Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, Johnson, and Shelby.

Contact WFYI city government and policy reporter Jill Sheridan at jsheridan@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @JillASheridan.