Violent crime and officer headcount down in Indy
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From left, IMPD chief assistant chief Catherine Cummings, chief Chris Bailey and assistant chief Michael Wolley. Photo: Justin L. Mack/Axios
Violent crime in Indianapolis is down across several key categories as 2024 comes to a close.
Why it matters: Year-over-year drops in homicides and shootings continue a recent trend of annual improvement after a post-pandemic crime surge made 2021 Indianapolis' deadliest year on record.
The big picture: IMPD leadership, which got a 2024 makeover in the form of a new police chief and command staff, says the progress stems from a multipronged approach they plan to push forward in the new year.
Yes, but: The department is still grappling with a historic officer shortage — the force, which is currently 1,468 strong, is about 300 officers short.
What they're saying: "As we move into 2025, we'll be looking at what in our repertoire we have to cut back on so we can focus on the things that meet our primary mission," IMPD chief Chris Bailey said Tuesday.
By the numbers: As of Tuesday, IMPD had recorded 165 criminal homicides in 2024.
- That's down about 2.4% from this time last year, and down 31.7% compared with 2021.
- Non-fatal shootings have dropped to 463, down about 10% and 28% from 2023 and 2021, respectively.
Zoom out: Overall, homicides from January to September fell 17.8% compared with the same period a year ago in 66 U.S. cities included in the latest Major Cities Chiefs Association report.
The latest: One IMPD initiative still in the works is an effort to better understand the increase in the number of people shot by police.
- IMPD reported 18 people shot by officers in 2023 — the highest total in nearly a decade and up from just four people shot in the previous year.
- 15 people have been shot so far this year.
- The department has submitted all of its data for an independent analysis, and Bailey hopes to have a draft of the findings in the next four to five months.
Flashback: IMPD's use-of-force policy last underwent a department-led change in 2020 in response to calls for reform.
- The changes emphasize de-escalation tactics, including a ban on chokeholds and other tactics that restrict breathing.
- But the chokehold ban was lifted on July 1 when statewide changes to the deadly force policy made by the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy went into effect.
What's next: Officer retention, recruitment and wellness is near the top of IMPD's 2025 to-do list, and Bailey is hopeful an updated labor agreement recently agreed upon between the Fraternal Order of Police and the city of Indianapolis will be a boon to staffing.
- Bailey wants to see more diversity among the ranks with increases in women and multilingual officers.
- Over the next two to three years, he said, he'd like to establish an all-encompassing wellness center for police.
- "We talk about trauma in the community. Think about an officer who works the east district middle shift," Bailey said. "The amount of trauma that they see on a weekly basis is more than most of us see in a lifetime, and they deserve to have a place where they can go and talk to someone."