8/31/2006
Media Contact:
Justin Ohlemiller
(317)327-3690
Cherrish S. Pryor
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Mayor, Council President launch community task force focused on crime prevention
INDIANAPOLIS - Joined by community, business and public safety leaders from across the city, Mayor Bart Peterson and City-County Council President Monroe Gray today launched the Community Crime Prevention Task Force, a blue-ribbon panel organized by The Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee aimed at studying the root causes of crime and recommending strategies to address those causes.
"Our community has come together in unprecedented fashion over the last three weeks to address the surge of violence and crime in Indianapolis," Mayor Peterson said. "The focus of our swift action in these last several days has been on stepped up law enforcement and enhancements to the criminal justice system. And while these law enforcement and post-arrest initiatives must continue, it is vital that we as a community get at the heart of the issue and address the root causes of crime.
"That will be the focus of the Community Crime Prevention Task Force."
Shortly after the outbreak of violence during the first weekend in August, Council President Gray called for the creation of a task force to focus on the underlying, societal causes of violence and crime.
"Addressing the circumstances that cause people to commit violent crimes will make our city safer and improve the quality of life for everyone in this city," President Gray said. "The work of the Task Force will allow us to be more proactive in addressing the social problems that have led individuals to a life of violence. We must utilize all resources available to resolve the criminal justice problems facing our community and encourage citizens to more actively work with our law enforcement officials to keep our streets safe."
The co-chairs of the task force include former Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis Chancellor Gerald Bepko and local business leader and former Deputy Mayor Bill Shrewsberry.
Task force members include:
§ Ellen Annala - United Way of Central Indiana
§ Susan Brooks - U.S. Attorney for Southern District of Indiana
§ Dr. Virginia Caine - Marion County Health Department
§ Bradley Chambers - Buckingham Companies
§ Steve Corbitt - Corbitt & Sons Construction Company, Inc.
§ Fr. Stephan Brown - St. Rita's
§ Hal Darring - Global Parking
§ Roland Dorson - Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce
§ Dr. Bobby Fong - Butler University
§ Jane Henegar - Coalition for Homelessnes Intervention and Prevention, former Deputy Mayor
§ Vicki Mech Hester - Big Brothers, Big Sisters Central Indiana
§ Bruce Hetrick - Hetrick Communications
§ Pastor Jeffery Johnson - Eastern Star Church
§ Major J. T. Jones - Marion County Sheriff's Department
§ Reverend Michael Jones - Progressive Missionary Baptist Church
§ Joanne Joyce - Indianapolis Private Industry Council
§ Dr. Shelvy Keglar - Midwest Psychological Center
§ Uman Al-Khattab - Masjid Al Fajr
§ Regina Marsh - Forest Manor Multi-Service Center
§ Pastor Felipe Martinez - Indianapolis Latino Pastors Alliance
§ Jimmie L. McMillian - Barnes and Thornburg
§ Darryl Mickens - NAACP
§ Dr. Kent Millard - St. Luke United Methodist Church
§ Kathryn Minx - BSA LifeStructures
§ Bud Myers - Indianapolis Housing Agency
§ Margie Oakley - Concerned Clergy
§ Bob Palmer - FedEx Corporation
§ Deputy Mayor Ellen Quigley
§ Kathy G. Reehling - Crew Corporation
§ Captain Mark Rice - Indianapolis Police Department
§ Joyce Rogers - Indiana Black Expo
§ Stephen Russell - Celadon Group, Inc.
§ Rabbi Dennis Sasso - Congregation Beth-El Zedeck
§ Yvonne Shaheen - Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee
§ Joe Slash - Indianapolis Urban League
§ Amy Steal - George Washington High School
§ Mark Stewart - Southeast Neighborhood Development, Inc.
§ Steve. F. Walker - Walker Information
§ Dr. Eugene White - Indianapolis Public Schools
§ Olgen Williams - Christamore House
The Mayor said the Community Crime Prevention Task Force will be able to "hit the ground running" with their efforts because of months of past research and community-led work stemming from various past and ongoing efforts, including:
· the city's Community Development Summit in 2004;
· Success by Six;
· the city's offender re-entry program; and
· the Race Relations Leadership Network.
The summit resulted in the establishment of the city's Great Indy Neighborhoods program focused implementing comprehensive community building and revitalization strategies.
The task force will hold its first meeting within the next two week. The work of the Community Crime Prevention Task Force is slated to be complete this fall with a comprehensive report issued in December based on an analysis of data and public testimony.
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