Changes Needed at the Top in Indianapolis

By TChris, Section Misconduct
Posted on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 12:25:49 PM EST
Tags: (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

It's fair to say, as does this Indianapolis Star editorial, that there's a crisis in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

Ten IMPD officers have been arrested, jailed or targeted for investigation in the past four months. The latest in a string of scandals involves officer Anthony Smith, charged on Thursday with seven felonies, including rape. He is accused of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman while on duty last week.

[more ...]

Earlier this week, Chief Michael Spears suspended officer James Ingalls, accused of having sex with a prostitute while on duty. Last week, a third officer, Christopher Poindexter, was arrested on charges of filing a false police report. He is accused of trying to cover up a traffic accident involving his department-issued vehicle.

The editorial reasonably suggests that the mayor of Indianapolis must "take command" of the police department. Changing the culture of a department that instills the belief that police officers are above the law isn't an easy task. While it's sensible to examine hiring practices to make it more difficult for "rogue officers" to "slip through the screening process," the bad cops in Indianapolis have clearly been getting the message that their fellow officers will not report their unlawful behavior.

Change starts at the top. If the mayor wants to change the department's culture, he needs to start by changing the department's leaders. The mayor's decision to suspend his search for a new police chief sends the wrong message, both to the police and to the public.

< Time to Get on Board | Monday Night's Convention Schedule and Open Thread >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

Changes Needed at the Top in Indianapolis | 3 comments (3 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

Wow, (none / 0) (#1)
by eleanora on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 01:41:53 PM EST

"He is accused of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman while on duty last week."

If the accusation proves out, you have to wonder what the heck kind of environment did he work in? The mayor definitely needs to clean out that department right quick. Happy to see the editorial calling an alleged rape by its proper name, though, unlike many media stories that euphemize the accusation and make it lose its power.

Funny..... (none / 0) (#2)
by kdog on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 01:56:31 PM EST

Earlier this week, Chief Michael Spears suspended officer James Ingalls, accused of having sex with a prostitute while on duty

I thought that was s.o.p. for vice cops. The old "get out of jail for a freebie" card.

It's always easy to "demand" action. (none / 0) (#3)
by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Aug 25, 2008 at 02:24:14 PM EST

Such talk and hyperbole come cheap in the public arena. But it will take critical thinking to first determine the extent of the problem, and then arrive at its practical solution.

First of all, it is vitally important for the public's representatives on this issue to identify beforehand the actual chain of command, because it really makes no sense to bring political pressure to bear upon those persons who are really in no position to directly effect the necessary reform.

In large part because of patronage abuses and scandals in big-city police departments over the past century, very few police chiefs answer directly to the mayor, but are instead accountable to a city police commission. Commission members are usually in turn nominated by the city executive, i.e., the mayor or city manager, and then approved by the city council or board of supervisors.

These reforms were enacted to insulate law enforcement officers and leadership from the often unreasonable political demands of elected officials, a number of whom have in the past unduly influenced any number of issues, from interference in personnel decisions to the use of legal agencies to intimidate their political opposition.

While most mayors today certainly enjoy the not-insignificant power of the bully pulpit and can urge reforms, should a police department prove collectively recalcitrant in the face of scandal -- i.e., the L.A.P.D. in the aftermath of the 1991 Rodney King / police brutality trial and subsequent deadly riots throughout greater Los Angeles -- probably the most immediate way to curb such abuses is for citizens to commence legal action in state or federal court. Police officers and leadership are for obvious reason often loathe to be called to account by the judiciary, a partner in law enforcement that can prove quite unforgiving in such instances.