11/7/2005
Media Contact:
Steve Campbell, [317] 327-3622 |
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Modified police merger moves forward in council
Plan takes into account recent talks with Sheriff, other law enforcement officials
INDIANAPOLIS – The City-County Council’s special Law Enforcement Consolidation Committee tonight voted to move forward with the merger of the Indianapolis Police Department (IPD) and the Marion County Sheriff’s Department (MCSD).
The Council vote brings the city another step closer to merging IPD and MCSD, which was one of the major parts of Mayor Bart Peterson’s Indianapolis Works government reform plan.
New language reflects the recent conversations involving Sheriff’s Department officials, other local law enforcement professionals, citizens and Council members. The full Council will vote on the merger on Monday, November 14.
"This modified plan takes into account the valuable suggestions by the Sheriff’s office, other law enforcement officials and community leaders in Indianapolis and Marion County," Mayor Peterson said. "As a result, I believe the plan is better and stronger, and it will significantly improve police services throughout the city and county."
Highlights of the modified plan include:
Consolidation date. Transition planning would begin immediately and many administrative aspects of the merger will take place throughout 2006. The official merger date will be on January 1, 2007.
Transition oversight. The merger and transition will be managed by:
o Steering committee, comprised of six members appointed by the Sheriff, six members appointed by the IPD chief, three members appointed by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), 14 sheriff’s deputies and 14 IPD officers, each elected by its members.
The steering committee will create the initial consolidation plan that will be recommended to the advisory committee.
o Transition advisory committee, comprised of two Sheriff’s appointees, one mayoral appointee, two appointees of the IPD chief, one FOP member, the City Controller, the council vice president, minority leader and two council members, one council appointee having expertise in criminal justice matters, the public safety director and a citizen appointed by the transition authority.
The advisory committee will use the plan recommended by the steering committee to make a final recommendation to the transition authority.
o Transition authority, comprised of the sheriff, the mayor of Indianapolis and the president of the city-county council. The authority will make the final decisions regarding the merger.
Leadership:
o The elected sheriff, through his or her appointed chief, will be responsible for the operation of the department;
o The chief will oversee day-to-day operations of the agency. Another part of the modified plan is that the current IPD chief, Michael Spears, will serve as the chief of a consolidated law enforcement agency; and
o A Law Enforcement Advisory Council will advise the Sheriff on law enforcement matters. The Council will strictly serve in an advisory role.
Social security. Sheriff’s deputies who currently contribute to social security will not be forced to be removed from social security. IPD officers do not currently contribute to social security.
While the full savings from consolidation will not be realized fully as a result of the open-ended process created by the Indiana General Assembly earlier this year, some savings will occur as a result of the merging of the purchasing and other administrative functions.
And, because of the initial and anticipated savings, no officers will be laid off.
"Obviously the savings are important because they enable us to afford more officers on the streets," the Mayor added. "But more importantly, having one agency will mean a more efficient, more flexible, and overall better police force to serve and protect the citizens of Indianapolis and Marion County."
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