IMPD aims to prevent downtown violence with parental involvement, curfew enforcement

INDIANAPOLIS - Indianapolis police are urging parents to be accountable for their kids while police officers focus on making downtown safe following several recent violent weekends.




The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said they will have increased patrols and security downtown after two teens were killed and several others wounded in a shooting along Illinois last weekend.




That mass shooting in the heart of downtown left a 15 and 16-year-old dead just hours after the Fourth of July celebrations.

The violence came after six young people were wounded during a pair of shootings on Monument Circle and along the canal last month.




IMPD insists they're committed to making sure that violence doesn't repeat itself this weekend, but they also remind everyone that police can't prevent violence on their own.




"The best way to handle the situations that we've seen, especially in light of what we saw last weekend, is community cooperation," said IMPD Major Corey Mims.




In fact, while IMPD promised increased staffing, more public safety cameras and stepped up enforcement of the city's curfew, parents also need to do their part.




"Our message to the community is to be informed and be curious where your kids are," said Mims.




A proposal to move up the curfew by two hours every night throughout Marion County has been introduced to the city-county council, although details on fines and enforcement have not been finalized.




Ten Marion County superintendents have endorsed the expanded curfew, writing, "This proposal is not about punishment- it's about prevention. It's about reclaiming our streets, our neighborhoods and our collective peace of mind."








Just like they did last year during enhanced curfew enforcement in April, IMPD will use public address systems and social media to announce the curfew an hour ahead of time, giving juveniles the chance to catch and ride and leave downtown.




IMPD said their goal is not to arrest a large number of kids, but to make sure everyone is obeying the law.




"You can expect if they're engaged in illegal activity, there will be consequences," said Mims.  "It's not meant to be punitive. We again encourage our parents and guardians to be in the know about where their kids are."




The city-county council public safety committee will discuss the amended curfew ordinance on Wednesday.




In the meantime, the group of superintendents urge everyone to contact their city-county council members to voice support for Proposal 232.





via: https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/impd-aims-to-prevent-downtown-violence-with-parental-involvement-curfew-enforcement/