FOP Wants Investigation Into Facility's Closure

The Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police is calling for an investigation into why the Regional Operations Center and East District Police Headquarters was allowed to open.

Officers began working in the $18-million facility in 2012 prior to the Super Bowl, but it shut down this week due to poor conditions.

FOP President Bill Owensby says that raises a lot of questions.

"We are requesting an investigation to determine who signed off and approved the process for the city of Indianapolis to enter the current contract for this facility and how were code enforcement approvals completed on what has been determined to be substandard conditions of legally mandated safety regulations," he said.

The city pays about $87,000 a month to lease the facility, but it’s been shut down because of poor working conditions.

Owensby says there was mold, no hand rails on the stairwells, and other issues.

"We’ve contacted the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office and they are determining the best process to investigate the revelations that city officials may have knowingly and intentionally placed Indianapolis public safety employees - both sworn and civilian - in unsafe working conditions," said Owensby.

Vice President Rick Snyder says it could take months and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to get the facility up to par and doesn’t believe it’s worth the investment.

"I just think the tax payers have every right to ask what their $18-million got them here," he said.  "Especially at a time when they are being told we can’t afford to hire more police officers or take care of the ones that we have.  Any more money I think would be considered by most to be thrown down the drain on top of what has already been spent."

The nearly 150 officers working in the facility have been transferred to other locations including the Airport’s emergency operations center.