Full Notification

INDIANAPOLIS – U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch has designated October 3 – 7 as the inaugural National Community Policing Week. The week is designed to “ensure community policing is recognized as part of a shared public safety mission.”

One of AG Lynch’s key priorities is to support and promote strong relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve and protect every day.

“Community policing – public safety efforts built on resilient bonds of mutual trust and respect between local police officers and neighborhood residents – is an essential component of law enforcement work,” AG Lynch said in a memorandum.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has made community policing a focus – from transitioning to beat policing, hosting community engagement meetings, holding roll calls around the city, to something as simple as taking time for a quick pick-up game of basketball with area youth. It is all a part of Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett’s promise to help raise the level of community engagement and community trust.

“The broader public safety challenges that we confront as a city, were not created overnight and so many of them are rooted in larger systemic problems,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “By committing ourselves to community based policing, we are also demonstrating our long-term commitment to earning the community’s trust and building clear lines of communication with residents.”

IMPD Chief Troy Riggs said residents can expect community policing to be the new normal for the department.

“We’ve had great response to our foot patrols which allow officers to get to know the residents in the area they serve, as well as the churches and businesses,” Chief Riggs said. “We also have placed narcotics units in each of our districts, and added flex teams – which are a specialized group of officers – to respond to criminal trends in our city. We want to continue to build trust within our community.”

Indianapolis was one of 12 cities AG Lynch visited this year as part of a national Community Policing Tour. While in the Circle City, she saw the steps the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has taken to promote the physical and emotional health, safety and wellness of its officers.

During National Community Policing Week the IMPD will highlight a variety of events including:

• North District Coffee with a Cop – Mon., Oct. 3rd, 9-11 a.m., Lincoln Square Pancakes, 56th & Emerson
• Downtown District – Community Walk in Lockerbie, Chatham Arch and St. Joe Neighborhoods, Tues., Oct. 4th, 7 p.m. – meet on the lawn in front of Bru burger on Mass Ave.
• Northwest District Coffee with a Cop – Wed., Oct. 5th, 9 -10 a.m., Burger King, 8310 W. 10th St.
• Southeast District – New Crime Watch meeting, Thurs., Oct. 6th, 7-8 p.m., Woods at Liberty Park, 8425 E. Raymond St.
• East District Breakfast Club – Fri., Oct. 7, 9:30 a.m. - New Zion Tabernacle Church, 2602 N. LaSalle

A list of all events by district is attached.