INDIANAPOLIS–Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett’s violence prevention funding plan was sent to the full City-County Council Wednesday night with a “do-pass” recommendation from the Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee.
“It is abundantly clear that we have a violence problem in our city,” said IMPD Assistant Police Chief Chris Bailey.“We must confront our localized issues with local solutions.”
Hogsett and other city leaders said the $3.3 million investment will assist with reducing violent crimes, response times, advance data systems, and help them get more engaged with the community, among other things.
Nearly $1.8 million of the $3.3 million will go toward non-law enforcement public safety investments. Those include:
–$370,000 towards domestic violence reduction, including victim response services and funding for domestic violence interrupters
–$350,000 for mental health capabilities, including adding mental health expertise to dispatch and building out juvenile mental health and trauma resources
-$390,000 towards juvenile intervention, featuring grant funding for local organizations and at-risk youth programming
-$680,000 to expand staffing capacity at the Assessment and Intervention Center (AIC)
“These changes will bolster the City’s current efforts around community-based violence prevention,” said Office of Public Health and Safety Director Lauren Rodriguez. “Realizing there is no single solution to this sizeable challenge, this range of programming will directly address many of the elements that contribute to cycles of violence.”
Several people in Indianapolis showed up to say this proposal (Proposal 182) from Hogsett is not a good idea.
“Why don’t you all fix the problems in IMPD first? Go back to the table and scrap 182, and get the mayor’s office to do some real criminal justice reform,” said one man who came to voice his opinion at the committee meeting.
“Policing and surveillance programs do not keep us safe. We as the people and as the community keep each other safe,” said another man.
The meeting lasted approximately four hours.
“Redirecting these funds and committing to resident’s needs is the critical missing link in transforming our city,” said a woman.
According to IMPD, so far this year, the city of Indianapolis has had a total of 306 shootings. 87 of those were fatal.
The next step is for the full City-County Council to discuss the violence prevention funding plan. They are scheduled to do that July 12.
LISTEN: Public comments from the community
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