IMPD wants feedback on its priorities
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IMPD chief Chris Bailey discusses the department's new strategic plan while flanked by IMPD command staff and representatives from Taylor Advising. Photo: Justin L. Mack/Axios
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's new strategic plan focuses on creating a better workplace for officers, fostering greater trust within the community, and making infrastructure improvements to prepare for the future.
Why it matters: The plan — currently in draft form — can still be shaped by the general public before its finalization and implementation early next year.
What they're saying: "At the core of this plan is our mission to keep our community safe from crime and harm by serving with courage, compassion and purpose," IMPD chief Chris Bailey said Thursday. "Everything in this draft is designed to strengthen how we fulfill that mission."
Driving the news: IMPD leaders and representatives from local consulting firm Taylor Advising provided a first look at the pending five-year strategic plan Thursday.
- For the first time, community members have a say in how the department should allocate its resources.
- Taylor Advising facilitated seven in-person listening sessions over the summer — without police to ensure attendees felt comfortable being honest.
- Between the listening sessions, surveys and interviews, the department received input from more than 2,200 residents and 1,200 IMPD officers.
Zoom in: The draft plan details three proposed strategic priorities for the department:
- 👮♂️ Support the health and growth of officers and staff.
- 🤝 Enhance community safety through mutual support, trust and understanding.
- 🚔 Invest in IMPD infrastructure to boost efficiency, preparedness and morale.
State of play: According to Taylor Advising's assessment, just 50% of respondents agreed with the statement "IMPD is trustworthy."
- About 24% disagreed, 23% neither agreed nor disagreed, and 2% did not provide a rating.
- "That's a continuous effort on our part … we know that [trust has] been completely shaken since 2020," Bailey said. "We'll continue to listen and continue to do our part to try to improve that relationship."
Zoom out: The numbers trend further downward when it comes to transparency. Just 39% agreed with the statement "IMPD is transparent in its policies and practices," while 31% disagreed and 23% neither agreed nor disagreed.
- When measuring how safe people feel, 70% of respondents said they felt either "generally safe" or "very safe." About 16% felt either "very unsafe" or "generally unsafe," and 15% felt "neither safe nor unsafe."
What's next: Feedback on the draft plan's priorities is being collected online through Nov. 27 at this link.
- Click here for a full breakdown of the department's mission, vision and top priorities.
- The strategic plan is slated to be refined and implemented by IMPD in January.
Go deeper: Building a better Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department