Steve Jefferson/Eyewitness News
Indianapolis - Metro police officers have a new plan targeting crime in hard hit areas and they want residents to help be part of that plan.
Lieutenant Marshal Depew has charted Indy's top crime hot spots as well as where police make the most arrests. His new job is to direct police resources toward violent crime areas.
"Narcotics use, sales, distribution I think is the catalyst for the violent crimes," Lt. Depew said.
Police chart the area around West 16th Street and Lafayette Road as one of the highest average areas of arrests, assaults and homicides from 2002-2006. Those numbers are very evident to the people who live in that part of town.
"More or less drugs," said Cherrise Norris. "Drugs and how little guys are out here toting guns around."
"Seeing a lot more where you don't see killing, especially kids, a lot of that is uncalled for," said Marjorie Shelton.
Police need extra eyes and ears from the public in crime fighting target areas, especially in neighborhoods plagued with abandoned homes which breed crimes.
"If you are the guy that lives next to the crack house or vacant house with a drug dealer, you are going to see results real soon," Lt. Depew said.
The area at Martin Luther King, Jr. and 29th Street is another target for police. They say they need public support there, too.
"Back in the day when they used to do that, that helps out the community with things like the Christamore House, that does a whole lot," said Joseph Beaty.
"You should want a safe place to raise your children," Norris said.
Lt. Depew stresses that no one wants that more than police. He adds that street officers will work closely with all police department units as they target high crime areas. They are also working with prosecutors and judges to hold repeat offenders accountable.
