Ballard’s budget omits funds for police, fire recruitment
The Republican mayor's administration also is trying to renegotiate scheduled 3 percent pay raises for officers and firefighters for $5.5 million in budget cuts.
Crime
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Error renews questions about Indianapolis police
A fresh revelation about the mishandling of evidence in a fatal crash involving an Indianapolis police officer prompted the city's police chief, Paul Ciesielski, to step down Tuesday, and left Public Safety Director Frank Straub being grilled by a city-county committee Wednesday night.
Still no decisions on Indiana smoking, police-entry bills
Legislators finished work Wednesday without an agreement yet on just how comprehensive a statewide smoking ban they might adopt and without the support of a major police group for a proposal laying out when residents might be legally justified in using force against police officers.
Daniels signs new penalties for sex trafficking
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels signed a law Monday giving prosecutors more tools to battle human sex trafficking ahead of this weekend's Super Bowl.
State sentencing overhaul to take another year
Legislators stung last year by county prosecutors who opposed a sweeping plan to overhaul Indiana’s criminal sentencing scheme won’t push the issue this year. Sheriffs now are worried that an attempt to reduce crowding in state prisons could aggravate overpopulation in their jails.
Ballard fulfilled some pledges; others fell by wayside
The Republican mayor says he curbed crime, made government transparent, and pushed for property tax reform. His Democratic challenger says Ballard didn’t make good on repealing an income tax increase, hiring hundreds of police officers, or making education a top priority.
Former City-County Councilor’s trial set to begin
Lincoln Plowman, also a former Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department major, is accused of using his official position to collect $6,000 for helping to grease the wheels for a new strip club.
Sheriff’s department concerned about budget crunch
Officials from the Marion County Sheriff’s Department say they are concerned that a $10 million gap in this year’s budget will hurt their ability to pay critical bills.
State launches program to help employ ex-offenders
The state is launching an initiative aimed at helping ex-offenders find jobs, particularly with large businesses that tend to have the most trepidation about hiring them.
Marion County prosecutor plots white-collar strategy
Terry Curry expects his creation of a task force will start paying off with new cases—ranging from employee theft and investment fraud to political corruption—in the next few months.
Judge grills attorney for state over immigration law
A federal judge grilled an attorney for the state of Indiana on Monday about the state's new immigration law, questioning how police would enforce the law and saying one of its provisions conflicts with federal law.
Former Fifth Third exec killed in Puerto Rico
Maurice Spagnoletti, a former president and CEO of Cincinnati-based Fifth Third Bancorp’s central Indiana operations, was gunned down on Wednesday. He had been an executive of Doral Bank in Puerto Rico for about six months.
Crime-prevention grants awarded to 26 organizations
Indianapolis’ Community Crime Prevention Board awarded a total of $1.7 million in grants, down from $4 million last year, due to the city budget crunch.
Crime-grant selection enters final round
A smaller budget and new selection process for Indianapolis’ crime-prevention grant program has thrown some local not-for-profits for a loop.
Daniels’ plan on sentencing changes appears dead
Daniels had made revamping of the criminal sentencing laws one of his top priorities for this year's legislative session, but lawmakers handling the bill said Tuesday they hadn't been able to reach a compromise and didn't expect more action before the General Assembly's April 29 adjournment deadline.
Compromise elusive on Indiana sentencing changes
An Indiana legislator trying to find a compromise on a plan that Gov. Mitch Daniels originally pushed to help stem the state's prison costs seems to still have work ahead.
City-County Council OKs new crime grants board
The Indianapolis Parks Foundation will administer the city's tax-supported crime grants program, under a proposal approved Monday night 26-0 by the City-County Council.
Council may give up crime-grant duty to Parks Foundation
Under a proposal on its way to the City-County Council, the Indianapolis Parks Foundation would oversee millions of dollars in tax-supported grants for crime prevention.
State senator: Should Indiana legalize marijuana?
Sen. Karen Tallian, D- Portage, is sponsoring a bill that would direct the criminal law and sentencing study committee to examine Indiana's marijuana laws next summer and come up with recommendations.
HICKS: Civility matters, but don’t blame murder on words
In the wake of the shooting, the loudest debate centers on the heated level of political discourse and its presumed effect on a shooter.