INDIANAPOLIS–Crooks don’t care where the county line is. That’s one reason the Crime Gun Intelligence Center in Indianapolis is being expanded. It’s now called the Indiana Crime Gun Task Force. The announcement Tuesday means that cops in eight counties are cooperating to take down people who use guns in crimes, or who traffic illegal weapons.
“Violent crime and illegal gun transactions do not stop at the Marion County line,” said Indy Mayor Joe Hogsett, making the announcement at a Tuesday news conference.
LISTEN: Crime Gun Task Force introduced
He noted that since the Crime Gun Intelligence Center was formed, over 700 illegal guns have been confiscated and over 800 people have been prosecuted. Now, thanks to $10 million appropriated by the state legislature, eight counties are joining up to take down criminals who move between the metro counties.
“Our central Indiana region will be able to respond to homicides,” said the mayor, “and it will be a swift and effective and strategic response.”
Indianapolis Metro Police Assistant Chief Chris Bailey stressed that criminals do not respect borders and that the eight counties in the Indianapolis metro are all vulnerable to crime that is sometimes centralized in Indianapolis. So, Boone, Hamilton, Hendricks, Hancock, Morgan, Marion, Johnson and Shelby counties will all be part of the task force.
“There is no safe haven for you if you illegally traffic firearms, if you use a firearm against one of our neighbors or if you possess a firearm illegally,” said Bailey.
The ATF was central in helping form the original Indianapolis intelligence center. Assistant Special Agent in Charge Roland Hearndon said the agency would continue to assist all of the police agencies involved in using intelligence to track illegal guns and catch the crooks who use them.
“This intelligence task force is the next step to go after criminals who do not respect boundaries,” he said.
The Indianapolis Crime Gun Intelligence Center was formed in January 2019.
