DPS Hosts Community Conversation On Violence

Indianapolis city leaders are calling on the community to take a more active role in the fight against violent crime.

Various government agencies and organizations came together, Thursday, to discuss ideas and strategies to make streets safer.

Indianapolis residents packed into a room at the Central Library downtown.  For about an hour-and-a-half they heard why the city is having problems, what can be done, and what needs to be done.

Council President Maggie Lewis says any solution starts with the community stepping up.

"We have to take ownership of our communities, of our blocks, of our neighborhoods and not necessarily just rely on the police to do that," she said.

Mark Russell of the Indianapolis Urban League sat in the audience. He thinks the conversation is a good first step, but now residents and leaders need to take action.

"I'm glad to see, one, the conversation occurring, two, that it's more broad based than I expected,"  said Russell.  "I think what we need to do is really employ the listening folks throughout the community.  It was great to find out what services are out there and what the leadership is doing."

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard believes there is a gap in communicating what resources are available to reduce crime in the city.

He hopes the conversation is a step in closing it.

"All of this is happening, but is it getting to where it needs to go?  I just hope we keep that in mind as we do our task forces and the community conversations and the people talking to each other more and more and more," he said.  "I think we need to make sure the message that the people are trying to get out there and are putting so much effort into - we get it to the right place."

IMPD Chief Rick Hite says about 20 people are responsible in some way for about 900 violent crimes in Indianapolis, adding 70 percent of victims and 89 percent of suspects have criminal pasts.

Hite emphasized keeping people from returning to a life of crime through programs, sentencing and outreach is a key piece in reducing issues city wide.

"Changing your life means saving your life," he said.  "We are concerned about the value of the life of that individual who comes back home.  You cannot be caught in that same game ever again.  Change people, places and behaviors and your life will be changed."

Indianapolis resident Jim Spychalski thinks if the city gets a handle on violent crime, new opportunities will open up.

"Obviously the goal is to reduce the crime, to increase the livability of Indianapolis, in terms of quality of life, so that we can get more job prospects in Indianapolis, into the city and make Indianapolis a more friendly place to live," he said.

Another community conversation is scheduled for April 7.