Public Safety Committee Hears Recent Updates

The Indianapolis City-County Council Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee met Wednesday night. The meeting included updates on numerous issues facing the city.

The committee members say they are working with any group or agency that touches public safety -- that includes the Citizens Police Complaint Board’s outlined procedural updates. 

Executive Director Gina Beavens says their job is to build community trust.

"Through enhanced accountability and transparency in policing, and it continues to be relevant and necessary," says Beavens. 

Beavens says there are many barriers for citizens who are making complaints and many people feel the system won’t work for them.

“They don’t think that they can win,” says Beavens.

The board says it will increase the period where complaints can be filed, allow for the voice of the complainant during a review and put a detective on the board’s staff.

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears talked about his decision not to charge nonviolent protestors and possible complications in the current system.

"I think there’s a lot of challenges with police officers investigating themselves in terms of what’s the most appropriate way to do that," says Mears.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Randal Taylor reviewed civic action, calls to defund the police department and the new use-of-force policy.

"The police department is not stagnant," says Taylor, "it’s meant to grow."

Police representatives pointed out positive steps taken in recent years, including mental health training and bias training.