INDIANAPOLIS — Members of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 86 voted unanimously Thursday to endorse Republican candidate Cyndi Carrasco for Marion County prosecutor.
This past year, union president Rick Snyder has been openly critical of current Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears. Thursday night’s vote by the FOP would seem to indicate members share a similar viewpoint.
The Mears campaign said he wasn’t looking for backing from the FOP, adding that the prosecutor’s office must remain independent from police.
The campaign issued a statement which read:
“Upon receipt of the FOP 86 PAC invitation on Thursday, May 26 to participate in their endorsement process that ends today, the Mears for Indy campaign reaffirms our pledge to the Indianapolis community to reject campaign contributions and endorsements from law enforcement unions. In July 2020 we signed a pledge to reject any contributions from police unions as prosecutors being on the "political payroll" of police unions is inappropriate and unethical. The prosecutor's office must remain independent from police. Prosecutor Ryan Mears will continue his work to build trust in the community.”
“For a candidate to say, 'not only am I not going to participate in your process', but then to inject politics into that, really is received as thumbing his nose at police officers and their families,” said Snyder after Thursday’s vote.
Snyder explained the FOP’s PAC will decide if they give any money to Republican Carrasco, explaining that the FOP’s name and backing of a candidate was significant in its own right.
“We don’t take that lightly, and the trust of the community in the rank-and-file police officers and their families,” said Snyder.
Carrasco released a statement after receiving the FOP’s endorsement, which said:
“I am honored and humbled that the fine men and women of Indianapolis FOP No. 86 have placed their confidence in me to be our next Marion County Prosecutor.
I’m running for prosecutor because our community is facing a public safety crisis and we deserve better. As the top public safety official in the county, the prosecutor sets the tone for the criminal justice system. The current prosecutor is setting a tone of weakness, disrespect for law-enforcement, disregard of victims and lack of accountability for criminals.
Police officers are the very front line of public safety. They risk their lives protecting our community and keeping our family safe. Prosecutor Ryan Mears does not support the police. Their work is shoved under the rug when he fails to adequately charge criminals, including violent and repeat offenders -and people are dying.
Our law-enforcement officers need a partner in the Prosecutor’s Office who will work hand-in-hand with them toward our shared goal of public safety. I will be the partner law-enforcement needs to make our county the safe and prosperous community it once was.”
Snyder said it’s been three election cycles since the FOP had thrown its support behind a Republican candidate, and that this time, members wanted to start the endorsement process earlier.
“It was very clear that our membership wanted a longer term of our endorsement being out there to have the opportunity to educate the public on the perspective of police with what we need in that office,” said Snyder.
Snyder has been critical of Mears and his office over violent offenders being released on bail. Snyder also criticized Mears over a backlog of criminal cases awaiting their day in Marion County court and accused him of failing to pursue the red flag law involving the FedEx shooter in 2021.
"The criminal justice system is a system that works on partnerships with a variety of stakeholders," Carrasco said. "And foundationally there is a partnership that has to exist in order for the criminal justice system to work between the prosecutors office and law enforcement. A failed relationship between the prosecutors office and law enforcement results in the situation that unfortunately our city is facing now."
Mears has repeatedly defended his office. When it comes to violent offenders getting out on bail, Mears said that’s up to the judge.
"We don't set bonds," Mears said during a news conference earlier this year. "We're not a part of that process."
Mears said his office has also hired additional attorneys, paralegals and victim advocates to help with the backlog of cases.
And on his re-election website, Mears says his trial teams have "never had more success in the courtroom, holding people accountable for violent crimes and murders."
Meanwhile, Carrasco said rising violence and record homicides caused her to enter the race.
"I just think that the status quo, quite frankly, is not working, and I want to earn the opportunity to change that tide,” Carrasco told 13News in January. "The prosecutor needs to set the tone to say 'this has to stop.'"
Mike Schmuhl, chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party, provided the following statement to 13News:
Prosecutor Ryan Mears achieved an 84-percent conviction rate in 2021 and already has a 90-percent conviction rate this year for violent offenders. Criminals are being brought to justice by Mears, and his career experience as a prosecutor in Marion County is why he will be reelected. With public safety front of mind for many voters, now is not the time to take a chance on someone with no experience in the courtroom. No city has been immune to increases in certain types of crime, and we should all be focused on making our neighborhoods safer and more secure for generations to come.
Kyle Hupfer, chairman for the Indiana Republican Party, shared the GOP's support for Carrasco in the following statement:
Under total Democrat leadership, Indianapolis is in the midst of a public safety crisis. Cyndi Carrasco is the right candidate at the right time to bring balance, stability, and strength to the position of Marion County Prosecutor.
Cyndi has an impeccable record as a leader in justice and ethics at the state level. And as prosecutor, I am confident that she will bring the much-needed solutions to the public safety issues facing Indianapolis and will work to hold bad actors accountable.
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