Indy police add Monument Circle camera to check panhandling
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has a new eye in the sky on Monument Circle.
Police said they set up a mobile surveillance camera this week to crack down on aggressive panhandling.
Law enforcement already places the cameras downtown during big events, but downtown officers plan to use the cameras for their regular beat policing this year.
IMPD Capt. John Mann said the tool gives police a live view of most of Monument Circle. It feeds back to the city’s Homeland Security offices and the downtown police station.
“We plan on using that a lot in 2019,” Mann said.
He said IMPD could relocate the camera or possibly add one more for downtown hot spots.
“When I’m talking about hot spots, I’m talking about areas that get a lot of complaints. Whether it’s from drug dealing, homeless complaints, panhandling complaints.”
Police placed the Monument Circle camera in response to complaints about panhandling and drug dealing.
Mann said police will use the cameras to identify people and decide whether to send officers to the area. He said IMPD can ticket aggressive panhandlers and also connect them with resources to help turn their lives around.
“If there is something we can do or provide, a service we can provide, that will help that individual get off the streets, then that’s what we’re looking for because we don’t have to keep going back and addressing the problem over and over,” Mann said.
The department is considering a camera at the American Legion Mall when the weather warms.
Downtown commuter Andy Engle said panhandling has gotten worse but IMPD should find another way to crack down.
“It’s unfortunate that it has to be there (on the Circle),” Engle said. “Indianapolis is known for the Circle. I’d like to think this is one of the more beautiful parts of our city.”
Sameer Kahn, who also works downtown, said panhandlers don’t bother him much but neither do the cameras.
“I say it’s good,” Kahn said. “It’s for our own safety and, if that will discourage people from doing some bad, then that’s good.”
The city is ramping up its homelessness response. On Monday night, the City-County Council expanded pay-to-park hours downtown. Council President Vop Osili said he wants some of the extra money to go toward additional housing and services for the homeless.