Ballard veto hints at plan to increase police on streets
Instead of freeing up $6 million in Rebuild Indy funds for new recruits, city officials will soon debut a plan to move 100 officers from desk jobs to patrol, according to the mayor.
Public Safety
Articles
Business heavyweights raising cash for cops through foundation
A new foundation supporting the Indianapolis Department of Public Safety starts work in July, and its board is stacked with business and political leaders eager to help Director Troy Riggs advance the city’s cash-strapped operation.
Aromatherapy stores challenge Indiana’s ‘lookalike’ law
Four store owners say Indiana's efforts to curb "lookalike" drugs have gone too far.
Pence signs sentencing, IEDC-transparency bills
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed three bills into law Tuesday, one involving government transparency in economic development deals, one related to school safety and another overhauling criminal sentencing.
Bill banning secret videotaping at businesses fails
Rep. Bill Friend, R-Macy, said he withdrew the bill he sponsored at the request of Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma.
Councilors poised to ban criminal-history question
Democratic City-County Councilor Vop Osili said he expects to draft a “ban the box” ordinance this spring or summer.
BENNER: Reflection, but no solutions, after yet another tragedy
As I cradled my new granddaughter, I couldn’t help but wonder—again—just what kind of world we had welcomed her into.
Indiana stage-rules extension approved by legislators
State lawmakers have given final approval to a two-year extension of regulations on temporary outdoor stage rigging developed after the deadly Indiana State Fair stage collapse.
Extra security set for this weekend’s Little 500
Heightened security measures and an expanded police presence will greet visitors at this weekend's annual Little 500 bicycle races in response to Monday's deadly explosions at the Boston Marathon.
Bill for tighter cold-medication limits heads to Pence
Indiana legislators have given final approval to a bill tightening the limits on how much consumers can buy of cold and allergy pills often used to make methamphetamine.
Officials express confidence in Indy 500 security plan
Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials and Indiana State Police feel good about their security plan for this year's Indy 500 and won't remove trash cans from the track in response to deadly blasts at the Boston Marathon.
Safety chief says more security likely at events
Indianapolis will increase security at upcoming events such as the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon and Komen Race for the Cure, but spectators likely won’t notice the changes, Troy Riggs said.
Senate passes new criminal sentencing rules
Supporters hope changes to sentencing laws will direct more people convicted of low-level felonies to work release and other local programs. It also would require those convicted of the most-serious crimes to spend more time in prison.
School guns mandate dropped from House bill
An Indiana legislative committee has dropped a proposed requirement that all public and charter schools have a gun-carrying employee during school hours.
Indiana lawmakers poised to drop school guns mandate
The chairman of the House committee currently considering the bill said he expected changes would be made before it advances, while the bill's main House sponsor signaled he wouldn't fight to keep the mandate, which was added last week.to violent attacks.
Indiana governor against school guns mandate
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence says he believes local school officials should make decisions about security rather than being required to have an employee armed with a loaded gun during school hours.
Indiana lawmakers back tighter cold meds limits
The Indiana House will consider stricter limits on purchases of cold and allergy pills that can be used to make methamphetamine after a committee endorsed them Wednesday, but they rejected even tougher measures sought by several mayors.
Ballard plans to strengthen panhandling ordinance
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard wants to ban all forms of panhandling in the city's busiest downtown area following long-running complaints from convention officials and city boosters about people begging for money along downtown streets.
Cops to valets: Park cars, not traffic
Indianapolis police are keeping an eye on downtown valets, whose habit of blocking traffic lanes has prompted complaints. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department issued a stern reminder to all valet operators on Jan. 31, the week after the opening of The Alexander Hotel in CityWay at Delaware and South streets.
Lawmakers struggle with bill to stop synthetic drug sales
Lawmakers are finding it difficult to write a law that effectively cracks down on the sale of synthetic drugs while remaining fair to businesses that might not know they’re on their shelves.