City leaders try to develop neighborhood police beats, tech
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Every journey is different. This particular one involves the neighborhood of 38th Street and Meridian. It takes us only about a block or two. But leaders hope the impact is widespread.
“I live in Mapleton-Fall Creek. I’ve lived there about six years. We have far less problems than we’ve had in the past,” Marilyn Derocher said.
She along with other members of her community joined Mayor Joe Hogsett and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers Wednesday afternoon as they walked the neighborhood in hopes of achieving what Derocher spoke of: far fewer problems than in the past.
One way of achieving that? During the city’s monthly stewardship report, leaders said more police officers and better technology will help them achieve that goal.
By adding an average of 35 new police officers, IMPD Chief Bryan Roach said he hopes officers could to focus on beats, smaller geographic locations. Officers will get to know neighborhoods and the people, he said.
Another focus for the city: technology.
During the report, a Motorola representative from Atlanta, Ga., demonstrated how the city partners with the public to surveil the community. Private citizens can connect their video surveillance systems to the city’s to catch crimes in real time.
But, to have a sophisticated system, Indianapolis would need to update its current technology. The IMPD chief said he could not say how long it would take Indianapolis to have an effective surveillance system.
