Question from Indianapolis Mayoral Debate on WISH-TV: Hire more police officers?
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Democrat mayor of Indianapolis and a Republican hopeful for the job answered questions, many provided by WISH-TV viewers, during a live, hourlong debate aired Monday night.
Hogsett is seeking a third four-year term as mayor of Indianapolis. Shreve, a businessman who has previously served on the City-County Council, won the Republican primary in May.
Monday night’s presentation was the first one-hour televised debate in an Indianapolis mayoral campaign in nearly 20 years.
Both candidates have talked about getting more Indianapolis police officers on the force and on the street to help address crime. How exactly do the candidates plan to hire more officers when nearly every major city in the country has the same problem?
Shreve said says Indianapolis has lost 880 officers to other departments or early retirements, most going to other departments where they feel better supported. He wants to increase the age at which someone can go into the policing profession, to age 40 instead of 35. He wants to address the leadership of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department as well. Shreve also cited concerns about starting pay for officers.
Hogsett says the city has hired over 700 officers in the last eight years, and about 45% of them were hired during his time as mayor. He noted that the previous Republican mayor hired no officers at all. Hogsett says the first-year and second-year pay has increased, and he plans to continue to address pay concerns.