Hogsett taps IMPD Chief Bailey as chief deputy mayor, cites public safety focus

Mayor Joe Hogsett has appointed IMPD Chief Chris Bailey as the city’s next chief deputy mayor and chief of staff. Bailey, a 26-year veteran of the department, will transition to the new role on Feb. 2.

Bailey has led the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department since January 2024. In a statement, Hogsett said Bailey’s appointment “underscores our administration’s continued commitment to public safety and stronger neighborhoods.”

In a statement, Bailey, a lifelong Indianapolis resident, said he looks forward to helping "move our city forward with transparency, accountability, and a continued focus on the people we serve.”

Bailey replaces Dan Parker, who recently stepped down after serving in the position for more than three years.

During Bailey’s tenure as chief, reports of violent crimes decreased. The city recorded 133 murders in 2025, a 21% decrease since 2023, according to IMPD data released in late December.

Bailey attributes a decrease in violence and other crimes to his focus on community through a coordinated violence reduction strategy, the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force, as well as improved technology and mental health response efforts.

Despite the trend, gun violence remains a persistent challenge. During a weekend in September, 15 victims of gun violence were reported.

"Guns are not the solution to anything," Bailey said at the time. "When someone chooses to bring a firearm into a conflict, that decision carries consequences, often tragic ones."

Gov. Mike Braun has criticized Indianapolis city leaders and the Marion County Prosecutor's Office for downtown violence.

Hogsett will appoint a new IMPD chief in the coming weeks, according to a media release.

Contact WFYI All Things Considered newscaster and reporter Samantha Horton at shorton@wfyi.org or on Signal at SamHorton.05