Probation officers on patrol this weekend in downtown Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department will get help from juvenile probation officers this weekend in keeping track of unruly teenagers downtown.

Those officers are expected to point out teens who could potentially cause some type of conflict.

“We will work with them to conduct sweeps on Saturday,” said Valerie Washington. “They are very familiar with the kids.”

The beefed up security measures comes days after 16-year-old boy fired shots in a crowd on Saturday night near Circle Centre Mall.

This upcoming weekend, 50 officers are expected to be patrolling the downtown area. That number is up from the 20 officers that were assigned to the downtown beat last weekend.

According to police, database officers for IMPD have written 33 curfew violations in the past two years. Lack of manpower and more serious crimes are reasons why many believe those curfew violation numbers are relatively low.

“I think they do need to enforce the curfew,” said Doug Stephenson owner of Downtown Comics which is near Monument Circle. Indy's Curfew law for minors clearly states that those under 14 without an adult are not allowed in a public place after 11 p.m. each night.

Those between the ages of 15 and 17 must be out of public places by 1 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

“We need more of a cooperative effort between IMPD, the city, downtown merchants, Convention Center, and Simon Properties needs to step up and take some responsibilities," said Stephenson.

The Ten Point Coalition will hold a news conference on Friday at 10 a.m. to talk about their solutions to curb violence in downtown Indianapolis.