Advocates say IMPD silence on civilian oversight legislation speaks volumes
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Indiana lawmakers are considering legislation to strip IMPD's civilian-involved board of its powers.
Why it matters: Police oversight advocates are upset by IMPD's silence on the measure, arguing the bill would make the agency less transparent when trust in the community is already an issue.
- Research that shaped the department's new strategic plan found that just 39% of surveyed residents agreed with the statement "IMPD is transparent in its policies and practices," while 50% agreed with the statement "IMPD is trustworthy."
Driving the news: Senate Bill 284 would strip the General Orders Board established in response to George Floyd's murder of its binding authority by making civilian-led police oversight boards across the state "advisory only" bodies.
- The board — which is composed of four civilians and three law enforcement professionals — approves IMPD's officer conduct policies, including use of force.
- The bill was born after Indianapolis City-County Council Republicans turned to state lawmakers following a failed attempt to defang the board last summer.
Zoom in: Black Church Coalition, which stood alongside IMPD in November to unveil an online transparency portal that allows the public to track incidents and access crime statistics, and others across the Live Free Indiana ecosystem are protesting the legislation this week.
What they're saying: "For IMPD to be really committed to folks feeling safe, there's got to be a commitment to the department itself not being perceived as a threat or roadblock to that safety," coalition organizer Josh Riddick said. "If IMPD is willing to backpedal on its own policies around transparency, will they take additional steps back?"
- "It's disappointing, it's frustrating and it's not a good look to the agency."
Friction point: SB284 supporters say the General Orders Board setting best practices and approving the department's operating procedures undermines the chief's ability to run the department.
- Opponents argue the bill would remove an important layer of oversight while undoing years of intensive trust-building between law enforcement and the community.
Flashback: When the City-Council Council was considering a similar measure, former IMPD chief Chris Bailey said the civilian-majority board lowered morale in the department.
- When contacted for comment about SB284 and its impact last week, IMPD sent Axios the following statement: "IMPD will continue operating as usual while closely monitoring several proposed bills."
Speaking broadly about the importance of building trust and boosting transparency, new IMPD chief Tanya Terry said, "There's always going to be issues that people … may not agree on. But there's nothing that prevents you from listening with empathy and responding with integrity," she told Axios. "When our community sees us do that time and time again, it's only going to add to the trust and legitimacy and deepen that relationship."
What's next: SB284 is awaiting a committee hearing in the House after clearing the Senate with a 38-6 vote.
- The coalition plans to protest the bill at the Statehouse Tuesday through Thursday.