Merritt Invites Democrat To Serve As IMPD Chief If Elected

Republican mayoral candidate State Sen. Jim Merritt publicly invited former Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Deputy Chief Bill Benjamin to serve as police chief if Merritt is elected mayor Thursday.

Benjamin ran as a Democratic candidate for Marion County Sheriff in 2018. Merritt says crime reduction is not a partisan problem and believes Benjamin is the right person for the job.

“I am asking this prominent Democrat to join us because these issues are bigger than party," Merritt says. "Whether or not he votes for me, he is the right person to serve our city.”

Merritt has not formally invited Benjamin to serve as chief under his administration, nor has he talked adminstrative policies with him.

Benjamin is currently chief of security at Tindley Schools. He declined to comment on the invitation Thursday, but says he will give a public response Tuesday.