Addressing the Violence in Indy

A new IndyStar editorial presents a dire conclusion about Indianapolis: "City Is Losing Its Fight Against Violence." Mayor Joe Hogsett takes responsibility for the latest killings in Indianapolis, but the same headline could have been printed during the terms of Hogsett's recent predecessors. Greg Ballard and Bart Peterson would tell you, I'm sure, this isn't a problem that can be solved from the office atop the City-County Building. The headline reminded me of a meeting I attended a few days ago.

Chief Bryan Roach said, for years, IMPD has tried to fight crime as the department lost officers.  He can now look toward a day, near the end of Hogsett's term, when he will see growth in the operational strength of his department.  That will help IMPD establish a "neighborhood-based approach to violence reduction." He said, under this plan, officers won't be compelled to spend so much time responding to reports of crime. They'll have a new "beat" system that will allow them to monitor specific areas and watch for behavior that signals trouble before it happens.

The crime-fighting plan will also follow a theory that "violence spreads like a disease" -- victims may respond by committing their own violent acts. The new beat system will strive to immunize neighborhoods by working with the people closest to the turmoil.  If IMPD finds such allies, connecting the mayor's office to the streets, it may be able to disrupt the cycle of violence that frightens so many of our neighbors.   That's the hope, at least.