INDIANAPOLIS--Mayor al candidate and state Sen. Jim Merritt, a Republican, called out Mayor Joe Hogsett for being his own public safety director, in a news conference Sunday morning. Saturday night, six people were shot at the intersection of Maryland and Illinois streets, in front of the Steak ‘n Shake.
“I had a couple of friends who were down in Indianapolis last night about the time of the shooting,” said Merritt, standing at the intersection where a person fired shots down the street, putting two people in critical condition and two others in serious condition.
“They were trying to decide if they were going to go to Steak ‘n Shake or Burger Study. I’m so glad they chose Burger Study.”
Merritt accused Hogsett of hiding from the crime issue on the 25th floor of the City County Building, which is where the mayor’s office is.
“Mayor Joe thinks that he can handle the police department as his own public safety director. How is that working for us?” asked Merritt. He reiterated his promised that if elected he would hire a public safety director that he said would be out at such incidents. He also said his police chief would be there. It wasn’t clear whether he meant the public safety director would have duty downtown on weekends, or whether they would be out in shooting situations.
Audio titled MERRITT NEWS CONFERENCE AT STEAK N SHAKE by 93WIBC
“There’s an Atlanta Falcons football fan who is wondering, can I walk to the Colts game today?” he said. “Am I taking my life in my hands walking out of the Lucas Oil Stadium to go to dinner? Is this the Indianapolis we want?”
Merritt said he does not believe the police department has good leadership.
Hogsett released the following response:
“Last night’s shooting is a tragic example of thoughtless, violent conduct that has no place in our city. But it also reveals how important it is that work continues to address the root causes of such senseless acts, which far too often appear far away in time and place from the moment a trigger is pulled.
These acts of violence are not partisan or political, and neither are the solutions our community rightly demands. Whether through investments in the Police Athletic League and Safe Summer programs, work by the city’s Peacemakers, or social support initiatives such as Mayor Hogsett’s Project Indy, it will take all of Indianapolis working together in order to turn back the tide of violence that has swept away too many of our young people.”
PHOTO: Eric Berman/Emmis
