INDIANAPOLIS — Police reform has been a hot topic since the riots in May, now a committee in Indianapolis is ready to work with police to see change.
The Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee released their police reform report, “Police Reform: Equal Treatment of Black Americans,” in hopes of beginning a conversation between communities and police departments rather than putting an end to one.
“At the end of the day it’s our desire to work together,” said one of the attorneys who helped with the report, John Gaidoo. “We don’t want to work against anyone. We think we’ll get more done when we’re working together, and identifying issues.”
He said the report is made up of suggestions that go along with their reform principles: accountability, transparency, community policing, national policing standards, and strategic fund allocation.
“We have supported the creation of a general orders board in Indianapolis. For the first time ever it’s a majority civilian board,” he said as an example. “Other things are like the use of force review board that was created recently. We support the creation of that because its got five civilian members and four police members.”
He said like the use of force review board, Indy Metro Police has already adopted some of their principles. They haven’t been in contact with IMPD yet, but hope they see the report and are open to having discussions about how to make things better.
“Our desire is really to work in collaboration with the police and not against them.”
But, they also want to make sure that law enforcement is being held accountable.
He said there’s no debating there’s been a lack of trust between black residents in Indianapolis and police. But, he believes the police departments don’t want that and neither do the communities.
“I think we’ll all come to the conclusion that there is a problem. Right? It’s undeniable,” Gaidoo said. “The more important issue is how do we work together to solve this problem?”
Because he said even though the report is directed and focused towards issues impacting black people it will help everyone.
“Police need partnership from the community and vice versa for us to make progress.”
