Kudos to IPD - by Mayor Bart Peterson

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Kudos to IPD
by Mayor Bart Peterson
this is a monthly message from the Mayor to Indianapolis' Neighborhoods

Each day mayors across our nation grapple with complex challenges to protect the people who live in the cities we represent. From addressing the new threat to homeland security to fighting crime on the block level, it takes the cooperation of local law enforcement and dedicated neighborhood residents to implement coordinated community policing to keep all of us safe.

In Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Police Department provides exceptional leadership in fighting crime and reducing violence. With a reinvigorated focus on community policing, our officers are working throughout their service area not just to react to crime but also to cut off criminal activity at its roots. Recent statistics show a drop in the city’s homicide rate during 2002 – by 12 percent in the Indianapolis Police Department’s district. The officers in your police department also solved or made arrests in 85 percent of homicides, a figure that far surpasses the national rate.

How can we account for these numbers? Solid community police work by the men and women of the Indianapolis Police Department working hand-in-hand with neighborhoods across this city. These law enforcement professionals remain steadfastly resolved to keep crime – and the criminal element – from taking over our city. They watch over your neighborhoods. They patrol the route you drive into downtown. They mentor kids through the Police Athletic League. They are at work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to keep you safe. I truly appreciate their efforts.

But we will not rest on our laurels. In 2003, the 200th new police officer will join the department’s ranks, completing my commitment to bring 200 new police officers to the streets. The department will continue to aggressively fight the use and spread of illegal drugs like meth. Our officers will combat the frightening trend of gun violence. And we will continue aggressive warrant and nuisance abatement sweeps with our partners in law enforcement.

The control of crime is critical for our city to thrive and grow, critical for our neighborhoods, our families and our children to succeed. With the officers of the Indianapolis Police Department on the front lines, I have no doubt Indianapolis will continue on our path as a world-class city.