MAKING PUBLIC SAFETY A MAJOR PRIORITY IN INDINAPOLIS

 Sikh community leaders with Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and the Public Safety Director Troy Riggs

by Kanwal Prakash Singh

 INDIANAPOLIS, MARCH 8

American cities, in the wake of recent gun-related violence victims and deaths at a political rally in Tempe, Arizona; in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado; at a Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, and the heartbreaking loss of life of 20 children and 6 teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut; and daily incidences of violence in workplaces, shopping centers, neighborhoods and public spaces are deeply concerned to take additional measures to keep citizens safe from such horrific nightmares. The monumental task before city and state officials is to rebuild the shaken trust of the public in the law enforcement agencies and for local authorities to bring this violence and frightening menace under control.  The big city mayors are hard at work to make their cities safe for all citizens and visitors.

 Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard has made public safety among his top priorities.  The new Public Safety Director Troy Riggs and his team that includes Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Richard Hite and Indianapolis Homeland Security Chief Gary Coons have been hard at work to explore ways to make Indianapolis, the eleventh largest City in the USA, a safe and welcome City for all communities in the metropolitan area and to make the Indianapolis Police Department among the best in the Nation.

Indianapolis has taken a few important steps.  Great efforts and sound initiatives are underway at many levels: better police training, streamlined procedures, fair representation of minorities on the police force; cultural training that provides introduction and insights into the special cultural concerns of ethnic communities who work and live among us.  There is need to develop a healthy respect for our growing diverse, multi-ethnic, and multi-faith populations; increase police patrolling and presence in high crime areas; improve police and community relations; work with faith leaders, cultural groups and civic organizations to bring youth and gang violence under control; and coordinate with state and national law enforcement agencies to devise strategies to prevent future tragedies before they occur.

With budget constraints, past histories and the culture in place, this is not an easy task, and Indianapolis is far from where it wants to be.  Fortunately, Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard is a hands-on leader who recognizes the urgency and takes the approach: implement ideas that work and produce results.  Mayor Ballard believes that we should know our citizens and engage them to serve our City; people are the stakeholders, and we serve in their best interests.

SEEING DIVERSITY AS A RESOURCE AND STRENGTH

Mayor Ballard sees the diverse cultures in Indianapolis as a source of pride and cultural richness.    

Mayor and Mrs. Ballard often visit places of worship of ethnic communities, including the Sikh Gurdwara.  They encourage and support cultural, ethnic, and international festivals.  Members of several nationalities serve his administration; he has appointed a Sikh American to serve on the Indianapolis Civilian Police Merit Board.  Mayor Ballard has expanded and strengthened the Indianapolis’ Sister-City program and relations.  At the Mayor’s annual Diversity Awards, Mayor Ballard demonstrates his commitment and excitement to see Indianapolis as not just a safe and welcome destination, but as the future cultural capital of the Midwest. 

Mayor Ballard understands that to attract jobs, investments, and the best and brightest talent from overseas, we need a vibrant world-class City that is visually attractive with dynamic prospects.  Following the tradition of his predecessors, Mayor Ballard is determined to open the City’s and with it Indiana’s window to the world.  He sees this as an opportunity and a responsibility for the future of the City.  Mayor Ballard works hard to help residents understand that the success of cities depends upon citizens feeling a sense of belonging and excitement about the place they call home.

The Indianapolis Civilian Police Merit Board is one small part of this equation.  The seven-member independent Indianapolis Civilian Police Merit Board “establishes rules and regulations for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD); develops a classification of ranks, grades, and positions for members of IMPD; oversees the merit system.”  The Police Merit Board is the only entity that has the “legal authority to hire and fire Metro police officers.”  The Civilian Police Merit Board members are appointed by the Indianapolis Safety Director, City County Council, and Police Officers.  The members, appointed to four-year terms, represent diverse visions, leadership skills, civic and ethnic interests.  They are all committed to seeing that Indianapolis is a City that works, serves, inspires, and safeguards the well-being of all citizens.  Serving with these distinguished leaders under the Merit Board Chairman is a great privilege and an amazing learning experience.

REFLECTION:

As I sit through the very professional and thoughtful monthly deliberations and occasional lengthy hearings involving the police officers, I often wonder: Are any of these ideas in place in the Police Departments of Indian cities, other countries?  Are there any existing civilian-complaint avenues where the unfair practices of police are addressed?  Are the public safety measures, procedures, policies, training requirements updated to reflect the latest crime trends?  Would the police officers in Indianapolis’ sister-cities’ rosters benefit from future law-enforcement personnel exchanges and opportunities to train at each other’s destinations?

We hear so much about police brutality, negligence, and incompetence.  What steps must we take as a civilization to make safeguarding the public interest from unprovoked violence, terrorism, and criminal elements in our society an urgent priority and civic responsibility?  Safety of all citizens and fair treatment under the law as a sacred trust remains elusive in many parts of the world.  It must be a basic assurance in every settlement across the planet.  Living through repeated agonizing experiences is devastating to the human spirit, civil peace, and prosperity.  Our hope and prayer to seek a violence-free peaceful human universe may remain a dream for a long time, but doing nothing only forecasts continuing problems.