Indy mayor, other leaders to host events aimed at fighting crime
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett is teaming up with the top crime fighters in the city as the murder rate soars. He has rolled out a full day’s agenda aimed at solving and reducing violent crime.
When it comes to the number of homicides, the rate is nearly double that of last year for the same time period. Just last weekend, police say six people were killed and that comes on the heels of a quadruple murder that happened exactly two weeks ago Wednesday.
This isn’t something Mayor Hogsett is sweeping under the rug. This is the second time in less than three weeks, he’s called for public meetings and press conferences just to talk about the violent crime in the city.
IMPD officers have responded to more than 30 murders so far this year. Wednesday morning we’re told the mayor and city officials will meet with the media to outline upcoming initiatives, strategic investments targeting violent crime and criminal justice reform efforts. No cameras will be allowed during this session, only note-taking.
The mayor will then hold a news conference with Chief Taylor and Josh Minkler, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, to announce an expanded partnership between federal and local law enforcement, followed by a second news conference focused on crime reduction programs available in the city.
“We all are committed to work together and helping one another make Indianapolis a safer, more peaceful and more prosperous community,” Mayor Hogsett said in January.
Mayor Hogsett is a former prosecutor who ran on a crime reduction platform. This is his second term and the first included a record-breaking year for homicides in 2018. At this rate, 2020 will shatter that and it seems it’s not something Hogsett wants on his record as the leader for the city.