With recent problems plaguing the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the City-County is stepping into fray.  Council President Ryan Vaughn and Public Safety Committee Chairman Ben Hunter are offering up a proposal they say will bring changes to the department that are 20 years in the making. The Councilors say their law enforcement integrity professional proposal […]

My brothers and sisters in the media today are all writing about the the calls for the public safety director, Frank Straub,  to step down.  The calls to resign center around recent scandals involving the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.   Now some of you are going to say, “Abdul, you’re on that public safety advisory board […]

As the City gets ready to meet next week with a group of local pastors to talk about building better relations between police and certain segments of the community, they may want to look at addressing false allegations of excessive force. Already in the wake of the Brandon Johnson case word of false accusations have […]

Between Al Sharpton coming to town tonight to speak about the Brandon Johnson case and the “March for Peace” slated for tomorrow around the City-County building, I must take a moment to give credit where credit is due.  Some people in this town believe there was an injustice and so they’re stepping up and taking […]

Here is the audio from today’s news conference concerning the allegations of police brutality and IMPD.   Public Safety Director Frank Straub and IMPD Chief Paul Ciesielski addressed the media and recommended the firing of Officer Jerry Piland for excessive force against Brandon Johnson.  There’s also reaction from the FOP.  Each segment is about 8 […]

As IMPD gets ready to release its findings on the alleged use of excessive force against Brandon Johnson, I thought it would be interesting to share some data on police complaints and assaults against officers. Using the Department’s 2008 Annual Report as a starting point there were more than 180 complaints filed  IMPD officers in […]

I’m looking out for a few items today.  Here’s what they are… IMPD could release information regarding the alleged beating of 15-year old Brandon Johnson as early as tomorrow.  My sources tell me the officers involved could face discipline ranging from a reprimand to termination.  In addition, expect the call for the creation of a […]

I picked up a lot of gossip over the weekend.  So naturally I did what anyone else would do.  Share it!!!  Enjoy. The list of candidates for Public Safety Director is now down to four; three in-house and one from outside.   Interim Director Mark Renner, current police chief Mike Spears and Darryl Pierce.  Also on […]

There is another story of another IMPD officer getting in trouble.  This story is on the heals of another IMPD officer who got in trouble and three other IMPD officers who got in trouble.  And they are not to be confused with the former Public Safety Advisor turned Marion County Sheriff employee who is also […]

There are two more stories of violence in Indianapolis this morning.  One involved the shooting of a man at 38th Moeller Road, the second was a shooting last night outside the Walker Theatre. Frankly, I’m getting a little tired of  reading or watching another story about violence in this community.   And while I’m all for […]