Broad Ripple battles crime problem

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Broad Ripple is Indy's popular nightspot. Recently a slew of 911 calls has made the area more popular for the wrong reasons.

CrimeView statistics gives a better perspective. In the last month, police have been called to the same 1,000-foot radius area in Broad Ripple 92 times.

The crimes include armed robbery, assaults and public intoxication.

Disturbed by this recent trend, the Broad Ripple Village Association called on a few pastors for help. Ten Point Coalition patrolled the city streets on a Saturday night two weekends ago.

Remarkably, that night stayed quite.

"Us and IMPD, we make a real good team together. We can make difference, "said Rev. Charles Harrison.

Recently the Ten Point Coalition announced they would not be returning to Broad Ripple to help with patrols. Harrison explained that the group of volunteers works in neighborhoods on Fridays and downtown on Saturdays.

Adding Broad Ripple would be too taxing on the volunteers. So, the group asked the association for $10 an hour, which would produce a dedicated staff.

"What we have been told — they don’t have the funds themselves, but they are looking at other ways to have us come here," said Harrison.

In the meantime, police are making extra patrols. 24-Hour News 8 has learned that IMPD is also working on a strategy for Broad Ripple.