Indianapolis leaders search for solutions as murder toll nears record
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis is one murder shy of tying the homicide record of 245 in 2020.
“Disappointing, obviously. Every year, you are hoping it will be less than the year before,” said Randal Taylor, chief of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
Mayor Joe Hogsett said a big chunk of the $420 million earmarked for the Indianapolis under the federal American Rescue Plan Act will go toward hiring more police officers and improving technology.
He recently announced a three-year, $15 million investment in community-oriented crime prevention and reduction.
“Those efforts have already begun. In fact just several weeks ago, I was right over here at the Boys & Girls Club announcing our support as a city in the VOICES program,” said Hogsett.
VOICES Corp. provides resources and opportunities for youths who may have a troubled background.
The police chief acknowledges some of the outreach programs may not save everyone from a life of crime. “We know historically there are people in the drug game. There’s people that fool with gang mentality. We know a lot of the time they are going to end up in the coroner’s office,” Taylor said.
The chief said new technology such as “shot spotters,” which can detect gunfire, should be in place by the beginning of 2022.
