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CONSOLIDATION OF INDIANAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MARION COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

Consolidation will be revisited. The new Mayor has said that he does not want to reverse consolidation. He wants to bring the buck back home to the mayor where it belongs. Passing the responsibility for public safety to another elected official was the main problem with the conception in the first place. Anyone one who cared to investigate knew there would be no money savings with the consolidation. The current sheriff opposed consolidation until he was brought around by the offer that he would be in charge. Correspondence he sent to members of the FOP made clear his initial position. In the 2007 general election, Councillors Scott, who supported the consolidation, and Councilor Franklin, who opposed the consolidation, lost their bid for re-election to opponents of the opposite party. Councilor Langsford did not run. A member of the same party was elected to that district.

The Consolidation of the Indianapolis Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff's Office is now a done deal. Two Councillors switched their votes from last time: J. Scott Keller (R), District 16, and Lance Langsford (R), District 21. Councillor Sherron Franklin (D), District 12, stayed put and voted nay. Rumor has it that Councillor Keller was assured, in writing, that his concerns regarding the non-political treatment of merit officers had been addressed. The same rumor indicates that Keller required assurances that there would be no reduction in beat patrol strength in the IPD East and South Districts during the transition.


Recalling that sometimes it is important to know what the definition of "is" is, what happens after the transition?

We must remember that our mayor promised us an increase of 200 IPD officers when he first ran. That didn't happen. Then he promised us a reduction of 68 officers if consolidation didn't happen.

Once a Chief Warrant Officer with, then, more time in grade than I had in the world told me, "Airman, hide and watch."

Our memory is long here. We will watch for after the transition.

I guess some things just cannot be killed. Consolidation rears its head again and some are wavering.

This Proposition has failed thanks to one bold Councillor who voted for the good of the city without an eye toward re-election only. We must watch closely to see that she suffers no inappropriate repercussions.

The vote on this question will be held on November 14, 2005. the Marion County Consolidation Study Commission report was completed on November 8, 2005. Hope the Councillors have read it. Grab your back pocket!

Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #86, has voted, overwhelmingly, to reject consolidation. What will our representatives on the Council do?

Recently, we find that Sheriff Anderson has gone public with his opposition to the consolidation of the Indianapolis Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff's Department. One might wonder why if one were to evaluate his position in the light of political party affiliation. We must keep in mind, however, that he was a US Marshal for a bunch of years before he was a political candidate. His office is a Constitutional one. Old Sarge is confident that his devotion to duty and support of the Constitution of Indiana is more important to him than political considerations.


A public hearing by the City/County Council committee charge with determining whether or not this proposal should move forward was held at Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #86 on the evening of July 25, 2005. As one might expect, given the venue, there were not a bunch of supporters in attendance. What was unexpected, at least by Old Sarge, was that the opposition was not just voiced by police officers. Community, neighborhood and religious leaders counseled against a rush to judgement.

Old Sarge, a retired member of the Lodge, got there early and wandered about listening to conversations. The common threads seemed to be what is the need, how will police services in the current IPD jurisdiction be affected and what are the specifics concerning savings and cost.

During the hearing the message seemed to be there is not a comprehensive plan as to how a consolidation will be effected and none will be compiled until the committee votes on August 17th. If the committee decides to proceed with the consolidation, planning will begin. It seems that many questions have not been answered that would be pertinent to the committee's decision and will not be answered until after the decision is made. Then, consolidation might happened within months. Anyone perceive a problem here?


Councilman J. Scott Keller addressed the committee. His message was quite clear. Essentially, he told the committee that there were 18 neighborhood associations within his district and he attended each meeting. He related that he perceived no support for the consolidation. He beseeched the committee that this question be not one of partisan politics but one of what is best for the citizens of Marion County and the City of Indianapolis.

We need more information and until it is forthcoming, Old Sarge thinks the consolidation should be resisted.