INDIANAPOLIS — A proposal headed to the Indianapolis City County Council would put three federal prosecutors on the city payroll.
Their focus would be going after the people committing gun crimes and other serious violent offenses in Marion County.
The city would pay their salaries, but they would be assigned to the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Southern District of Indiana. They would investigate cases in Marion County with the hopes of bringing federal charges.
Supporters of the proposal point out such charges often bring longer sentences than those charged by the state.
The proposal comes after a violent weekend in Indianapolis where 22 people were shot.
IMPD brass say they are seeing more automatic weapons used in crimes, including during an investigation where a suspect shot two officers in April.
"That was an automatic rifle that was being shot at those officers, and luckily, they were not killed. We are seeing machine gun conversion devices more and more," Deputy Chief Kendale Adams said.
When those weapons are used in crimes in Marion County, the new federal prosecutors would investigate and prosecute cases where federal firearms charges could be brought — cases involving a convicted felon, violent crimes or drugs, or cases with illegal trafficking in weapons.
If those federal charges end in convictions, that could mean more time behind bars in a federal facility for the person convicted.
"That has the effect of separating violent individuals from their networks that could have caused their behavior in the first place, and benefits us as well," said Matt Giffin, with the city's Office of Corporation Counsel.
Supporters of the new hirings, like Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, told members of the council's administration and finance committee the extra prosecutors would provide more tools to help make streets safer.
"It's the tools that a federal prosecutor has available to him or her that differentiate the federal system from the state system," Hogsett said.
It's a sentiment echoed by police.
"We believe, as we continue to be more strategic and more focused, this being in our toolbox only enhances our ability to make our community safe," Adams said.
Hiring the three new federal prosecutors for the rest of the year would cost the city about $225,000.
The proposal goes to the full council for consideration on July 10.