Indianapolis, Indiana – The city has achieved its initial aim of a 10% decrease in homicides and murders since the start of the gun violence reduction program last year.
Homicides decreased from 260 in 2021 to 225 in 2022 or just under 13.5%. 211 murders were committed, a 12% decrease from 240 in 2022.
The Mayor released a statement on New Year’s Day acknowledging the work done this year saying in part:
“This successful effort is thanks to a large-scale collaboration between City agencies, law enforcement, and grassroots organizations. But this is no celebration. We are still not where we want to be. And we continue grieving for the families and communities who have lost individuals to senseless acts of violence.”
Continued reduction of this number is a goal going into this new year, according to Police Chief Randal Taylor of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. The city aims to reduce waste by an additional 10% annually.
Chief Taylor said, “I’ve often said I’d much rather people decide not to commit a crime than us having to send them off somewhere to prison, or whatever in order to try and correct that issue. That’s why I was encouraged about the mayor and the city-county council giving money to some grassroots organizations that are trying to help with that. If we can keep people from committing those crimes in the first place we’re all in a better spot.”
Dane Nutty the Indy Public Safety Foundation President and CEO said, “That reduction is significant, obviously above goal, but higher than what we’re seeing in other large metropolitan cities so we feel very good about that. Looking to next year a 10% reduction every year is an ambitious goal but one that we feel we can do.”
The Indianapolis Peacemakers are doing their part to stop this crime from happening. To stop the cycle of violence, there exist people like Violence Interrupters, Outreach Workers, and Life Coaches. Life coaches assist people in finding a more secure path in life.
“If they don’t have a way to be able to provide for themselves or to be able to provide for their families the only thing left is a crime, so I want to provide them another way to be a man,” said Marvin Smith, a coach.
The program’s coaches can assist in providing resources so participants can finish their school or find work.
Additionally, Mayor Hogsett announced a $3.5 million agreement with Downtown Indy Inc. in a news release on New Year’s Day to help enhance public safety, cleanliness, and homeless outreach downtown.
