Indianapolis officials outline public safety plans in place for 2022

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and law enforcement officials laid out their 2022 public safety priorities Monday. The briefing comes after Indianapolis experienced a record year of homicides and nonfatal shootings.

“Our number one priority in this police department is to reduce violent crime, it has been and will continue to be in 2022,” Bailey said.

This year's efforts are aided by $150 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan.  Hogsett said when that announcement was made last summer, one thing was clear.

“We put a priority on law enforcement,” he said.

A combination of prevention and enforcement efforts will focus on a variety of programs over the next three years. That  includes the hiring of 100 additional officers, dozens of new IMPD civilian positions and improved law enforcement technology.

The plan also calls for $45 million for grassroots prevention groups, 50 new peacemakers and $30 million in mental health resources.

IMPD Chief Randall Taylor said the investments that have been made are starting to pay off.

“It’s important to know that despite those challenges, we did see some success in significant areas,” Taylor said.

Taylor said homicide numbers are down 35 percent compared to this time last year. In 2021, violence reduction teams also seized more than 850 guns. 

Leaders said community engagement will continue to be a priority. IMPD will host a series of town hall meetings beginning Jan. 31.

Continued improvement efforts on the use of IMPD data was also emphasized.

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