AUDIO: Former IMPD Chief Discusses Career, Body Cams, LA Riots
INDIANAPOLIS–After 38 years of law enforcement, former IMPD Chief Randal Taylor will retire on June 16, 2025.
“It’s been a great ride I have to admit. It started in Champaign, Illinois. I’m just glad I got to come to Indianapolis with a chance to serve the people,” said Taylor in a Monday interview with WIBC and Network Indiana’s Ryan Hedrick.
In 2020, the department began releasing critical incident videos which are shared on social media.
“The transparency was real. I assured everyone when I became Chief that when we got to the body worn cameras, I was going to make sure the public was going to see the things that we did, both the good and the bad,” said Taylor.
It’s been more than five years since riots hit Indianapolis resulting in both injuries and the deaths of at least two people in 2020.
“There’s things that happened during those times that I liked and I didn’t like. I just hope the people realized that this stuff exists so we can see it, talk about it, and make the changes that are needed,” said Taylor.
Under Chief Taylor’s leadership, the Use of Force Board and General Orders Boards were created. Both have a majority civilian representation. He says he’s proud of taking input from the community to rewrite the Use of Force policy to include the proportionate use of force, the duty to intervene, a requirement to provide medical aid, and strictly prohibiting the use of chokeholds.
Hedrick also asked Taylor about the prevalence of more young kids committing crimes in Indianapolis over the last several years. Taylor says the City of Indianapolis and its leaders have worked extremely diligently to make programs for at-risk and troubled youth.
“But of all those programs, you just don’t get parental participation. Without that, I don’t know how we make serious progress,” said Taylor.
He also said he’s troubled by the recent violence against ICE agents and other law enforcement in Los Angeles and beyond.
“I imagine the Chief of Police there would have the same thoughts as I would have with my people here. And that is to get those violent people causing the issues to get them locked up and corralled as quickly as possible,” said Taylor.
