INDIANAPOLIS — The shooting death of 15-year-old Devin Gilbert III outside of KIPP Indy Legacy High School on Nov. 3 continues to grip the Indianapolis community.
IMPD tells 13News they've been working with the school for a few years on a partnership where officers can work directly with students and staff.
"Safety is our number one priority for IMPD and KIPP schools and this helps give us a base for our conversations about moving forward, identifying opportunities to engage for our officers to have positive, purposeful communications with the student body, the staff outside of times of crisis," said IMPD North District Commander Matthew Thomas.
IMPD wants to work with KIPP students on a more personal level. For example, inviting them to the IMPD Headquarters Mountain Bike Park in the department's North District.
"That's an opportunity we're exploring with KIPP to figure out if there are ways we can bring the student body to the mountain bike park and have great positive experiences with our officers," said Thomas.
KIPP Indy Public Schools released a statement to 13News, reading:
"We are extremely grateful for the tremendous support and partnership we have in place with IMPD. For the past few years, we have had a strong relationship with the former Commander of the North District and now Deputy Chief Wolley, and the strength of that relationship has continued as the leadership of the North District has transitioned to Commander Thomas. Throughout the past several years, we have benefitted from close collaboration and authentic partnership from numerous IMPD leaders and officers to provide welcoming and supportive educational environments to students in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood. We are excited about the many opportunities that continue to exist for us to proactively and intentionally partner on future initiatives that center the voices of our students, families and neighborhood."
Other ways IMPD has gotten more personal with students is through the KIPP Indy school resource officer.
"IMPD's partnership with KIPP and with their school resource officer that came directly from IMPD is currently a reserve officer, has been very positive because that officer keeps a pulse on any issues that's going on within the school," said Thomas.
Thomas said the school resource officer plays an important role.
"What we've seen is that trust has been built with this officer. The officer is very well-liked on campus," said Thomas.
A goal for all students to develop that same trust with officers.
Prosecutors have not filed charges yet in Gilbert's death. They were granted an extension, but must file any charges in his shooting death by Friday.
The suspect in Gilbert's death is also 15 years old and was not a fellow KIPP student.