Call For Public Safety Summit Elicits Passionate Response

Indianapolis civic leaders held a press conference Monday to address recent violence and call for public safety answers. 

Indianapolis City-County Council minority leader Brian Mowery announced an upcoming summit.

 
"It will be a citizen-driven group to help lead the way in combating violent crime in our city," says Mowery. 
 
Mowery authored a proposal to study the issue, which failed last week. 

A bipartisan group of council members stood side by side.  Councilmember Dan Boots says the summit would support the ongoing work of the Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee.
 
"This discussion must focus on the root causes of violence and the elimination of racial disparities in our system," says Boots. 
 
A number of community members at the press conference pushed back against the call for more talk... saying solutions are needed now. 
 
CEO of nonprofit Circle Up Indy James Wilson says he’s been involved in many of these discussions and the violence continues to mount.
 
"You’re just now saying something years later when you’ve been following this since Ballard’s administration?" says Wilson. "That bothers me, this is serious and real to me."
 
Organizers say community members and residents will be invited to a meeting planned for next week.