Anti-Domestic Violence Initiative Named After Fallen Indianapolis Officer

There is a new effort to address domestic violence in Indianapolis. The initiative responds to a recent increase and is named after an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer who was killed earlier this year. 

Breann Leath was shot in April while responding to a domestic disturbance call. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, IMPD and the Southern U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the new initiative named in her honor.

The LEATH Initiative will work to identify people with previous domestic violence offenses who are in possession of illegal guns and charge them in federal court. Someone with a violent felony conviction or a domestic violence misdemeanor is not allowed by federal law to possess a firearm.

Indianapolis joins other large metropolitans in reporting an increase in violence. 

“While the level of domestic violence in our neighborhoods this year is not unique to Indianapolis, it is nonetheless unacceptable, and our officers remain committed to addressing it,” said IMPD Chief Randal Taylor.

In the first quarter of 2020, officers made 6,664 domestic violence radio runs -- more than double the number of runs made in the same period last year (3,130).

The effort also aims to support more survivors by connecting them to services including safe housing.