Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department

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Abbreviation
  
IMPD

Annual budget
  
$222 million

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department

Formed
  
January 1, 2007; 10 years ago (2007-01-01)

Preceding agencies
  
Indianapolis Police Department Marion County Sheriff’s Office

Legal personality
  
Governmental: Government agency

Operations jurisdiction*
  
City of Indianapolis in the state of Indiana, United States

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) is the law enforcement agency for the city of Indianapolis, Indiana, in the United States. Its operational jurisdiction covers all of the consolidated city of Indianapolis and Marion County except for the Airport Authority and the four excluded cities of Beech Grove, Lawrence, Southport and Speedway (see Unigov). The department was created on January 1, 2007, by consolidating the Indianapolis Police Department and the law enforcement division of the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

Contents

Organization

At the time of its formation, the IMPD was headed by the elected sheriff of Marion County, Frank J. Anderson. However, on February 29, 2008, the department came under the control of the mayor of Indianapolis, Greg Ballard. after Mayor Ballard and Sheriff Anderson reached a resolution for the transfer of power and the City-County Council passed Proposal 6 effecting the change. The IMPD is part of the Department of Public Safety. The mayor appoints the Director of Public Safety, who in turn appoints the Chief of Police to administer the daily operations of the department.

IMPD has six service districts.

Downtown District

The Downtown District is under the command of Commander Chad Knecht and has about 75 sworn officers and 10 civilian employees. Due to the nature of the area and the number of large events held here, this district relies heavily on foot, bicycle, and mounted patrol officers. The headquarters for the district is at 39 W. Jackson Street in the historic Union Station. It is bounded by 10th Street and I-65 to the north, I-70/I-65 to the east, Morris Street to the south, and the White River to the west.

North District

The North District is under the command of Commander Christopher Bailey and has 215 sworn officers and 10 civilian employees. It is responsible for a 79-square-mile (200 km2) area bounded by 96th Street to the north; the city of Lawrence to the east; Massachusetts Avenue, 30th Street, and Fall Creek to the south; and Michigan Road to the west. Its headquarters is at 3120 E. 30th Street.

East District

The East District is under the command of Commander Roger Spurgeon. This nearly 39-square-mile (100 km2) area is served by 180 sworn officers and 10 civilian employees. It is bounded by the city of Lawrence to the north; Carrol Road to the east; Washington Street and Brookville Road to the south; and I-65 and Meridian Street to the west. The district maintains their headquarters at 201 N. Shadeland Avenue, also known as the Regional Operations Center or ROC.

Southeast District

The Southeast District is under the command of Commander Dawn Snyder. Under her are 190 sworn officers and 15 civilian employees patrolling a 97-square-mile (250 km2) area bounded by Washington Street to the north; Carroll Road to the east; County Line Road to the South; and Meridian Street to the west. Headquarters for this district is located in Fountain Square at 1150 S. Shelby Street.

Southwest District

Command for the Southwest District falls to Commander Michael Spears, who leads a district of 190 sworn officers and 10 civilian employees. They take responsibility for an area encompassing 80 square miles (210 km2). The district's northern boundary consists of 10th Street until the town of Speedway, around Speedway until 16th Street, and following 16th to the White River; the eastern boundary is White River to Morris Street, then east until Meridian Street, and then south to County Line Road; the southern boundary is County Line Road; and the western boundary is Raceway Road. The district's headquarters is at 551 N. King Avenue.

Northwest District

Commander Karen Arnett is in command of the Northwest District of 200 sworn officers and 10 civilian employees. The boundaries for the district are 96th Street to the north; Michigan, I-65, and Meridian Street to the east; 10th Street, 16th Street, the Town of Speedway, and 10th Street again to the south; and Raceway Road to the west. The headquarters is at 3821 Industrial Boulevard.

Special Units and Criminal Investigations

In addition to the service districts detailed above, the department also maintains an Investigations Division for investigation of major crimes such as murder, rape, and those related to narcotics, gangs, or organized crime. The department also maintains five special units:

  • Aviation Section - Operates one helicopter to support vehicle patrols and pursuits.
  • Canine Section - Extensively trains dogs and handlers for use in police investigations and operations.
  • Mounted Patrol - Operates in downtown district primarily, serving areas not accessible to vehicle patrols.
  • "Ranger Unit" - Assigned to each district, these officers patrol the 200+ park properties in Indianapolis.
  • SWAT - High-risk operations division divided into three section: Snipers/Observers, Entry, and Tactical Emergency Medical Specialists (TEMS).
  • Fallen officers

    To date, there have been three Indianapolis Metropolitan police officers killed in the line of duty since the department was created in 2007.

    References

    Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Wikipedia