Sheriff’s office agrees to temporary transport deal

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has come to an agreement with towns and cities previously not included in plans to transport people to the new Community Justice Campus.

The agreement will assure some arrestees in Lawrence, Speedway, Beech Grove, Southport and Cumberland will be transported to the new jail. The compromise comes after towns and cities spoke out, saying no plans were in place. 

Marion County Sheriff's Office Captain Mitch Gore said the office worked with excluded communities. 

“If an on-duty excluded city or town officer makes an arrest of somebody who has allegedly committed a violent crime, the sheriff's office will come and transport that person and allow the officer to get back in service,” Gore said.

Gore said there is also a new coalition to prevent further issues and will review services after six months.

“Public safety is too important to let these disagreements or these misunderstandings get in the way, we need to move together as one county to address violent crime," he said.

The office also calls on the City Controller to fund long term solutions for arrestee transportation and to allow expanded services for Eskenazi Hospital police.

Solutions for IMPD include new public safety officers to staff transport wagons.

This transition comes as the MCSO has several current challenges. Its budget was cut, as part of reorganization plans associated with the new justice campus. The office also has a staffing shortage.