Indy Mayor Pushes For Witness Protection Funding

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett announced Tuesday his office has identified $300,000 that could create a witness protection program, in an effort to fight crime.

Hogsett says he’s hopeful public safety officials can work together to create a plan in the coming weeks.

Charles Harrison is board president of the Indianapolis Ten Point Coalition, a group that works to end violence in the city.

Harrison says witness protection would likely help some witnesses feel comfortable going to the police. But he says it’s only the first step.

“The much larger issue that we’re dealing with is mistrust between police and the black community, and the code of silence on the street that keeps a lot of people from coming forward and talking,” Harrison says.

Funding the program will require City-County Council approval. The mayor says it would not impact the 2018 city budget.