INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department says it is stepping up proactive patrols in areas across the city when and where data analysis reveals crimes are occurring.
IMPD says it started seriously analyzing violent and property crimes data a couple years ago to better identify hotspots for increased patrols. Now, hiring more data analysts is allowing the department to refine what they call a data-driven proactive policing initiative.
"We've been able to kind of delineate the days and times of the week. We have not been able to really do that prior,” IMPD Assistant Chief Michael Wolley said. “And so based off of that information, we know exactly when we should put our resources within those areas. And so that's really the purpose is to really hone in on those times when we're supposed to be there."
When they are not on runs, officers will be asked to patrol areas at specific days and times when crime is trending in those areas.
"Ideally, when our officers have discretionary time and they align with those periods that we would want them in those specific areas, they would go there,” Wolley said. “They would walk the area, or they drive and sit there with their lights on in some cases, just making sure that everyone can see where they're at."
Jessica Marshall is co-chair of the Community Resource District Council for IMPD’s Southeast District. The organization helps people build connections with police officers in their neighborhood.
"Being able to see the proactive approach from IMPD is really going to allow community members to see that there's a collaborative approach and seeing them to be there to proactively deter crime and instead of just being reactive and showing up afterwards,” Marshall said.
IMPD will not identify any targeted areas, but says the initiative is citywide.
"Hopefully, we're going get some crime reduction within those areas,” Wolley said. “We are measuring the amount of time that we'll be in there when we're in those areas. And the goal is once crime has been reduced within those areas, we'll reevaluate and figure out where we need to go."
Wolley said the crime data and effectiveness of the patrols will be reevaluated every three or four months.