Indianapolis Gets Federal Help To Combat Violence In City

Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis police are getting help from federal officials as they work to reduce violence.

The city has seen its homicides jump from 96 in 2012 to 135 last year. Many suspects in those cases have criminal records.

The Indianapolis Star reports the FBI has beefed up its Indianapolis office and divided it into two divisions to cover violent crime and gangs. Indianapolis police have targeted six areas that they say are the city's most dangerous.

Public Safety Director Troy Riggs says the additional resources can help deter violence by hitting criminals with tougher federal laws.

Riggs says the city is better off than it was in 2012 but still has work to do in the hot spots that account for 27 percent of the homicides.

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