Safety: Model Programs Keep Downtown Safe

Downtown Indianapolis remains safe
Downtown Indianapolis is a safe, vibrant and beautiful urban center to live, work and play.  In fact, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) statistics indicate that Downtown remains the safest area within Marion County.  Downtown District accounted for only 3.5 percent of the city’s crimes in 2008.  Crime in Downtown is down to its lowest level in five years.

Indianapolis Downtown Inc. (IDI) works closely with IMPD Downtown District and the City of Indianapolis to increase customer confidence in public safety – Mayor Ballard’s number one priority. 
 
IDI’s partnerships and programs with the public and private sectors help keep Downtown safe.

Chip In at the Box
In May 2008, a new program was introduced by the City of Indianapolis, Coalition for Homelessness Intervention & Prevention (CHIP), IDI and other partners to address aggressive panhandling and help homeless service providers assist those truly in need.  The Chip in at the Box campaign placed five collection boxes throughout Downtown in 2008 and added three additional boxes in 2009.  The program encourages people to deposit street donations in the boxes rather than give directly to panhandlers.  The money collected is distributed to homeless service providers.  IDI encourages Downtown customers and employees to place donations in these boxes and to educate others to do the same.  It’s a positive way to help end homelessness and panhandling. 

Bike and Walking Patrols add police presence
The IDI Bike and Walking Patrols began in May 1995 to augment IMPD’s presence on Downtown streets and sidewalks.  Staffed by off-duty IMPD, IUPUI, Indiana State Capitol Police, Indianapolis Housing Police, Marion County Sheriff’s Department and other sactioned Marion County law enforcement agencies, the patrols provide a customer-friendly and visible police presence that enhances consumer confidence in public safety.  The officers deter crime and act as Downtown ambassadors by providing assistance to visitors. 

In 2008, IDI Bike and Walking Patrol officers:

• Provided 7,945 patrol hours, 9,080 parking lot and garage patrols, 3,522 security partner contacts and 20,124 visitor contacts. 
• Assisted IMPD with 664 police runs and 86 arrests.
• Distributed thousands of Downtown maps and gave directions to thousands of Downtown visitors.

Downtown Security Partnership good public-private safety team
The IDI Downtown Security Partnership is designed to enhance coordination among IMPD and Downtown security resources.  The program links 171 security and law enforcement personnel, 64 organizations and more than 200 properties with IMPD.  Participants proactively take on additional patrolling responsibilities outside their buildings and act as extra sets of eyes and ears for police.  Participants of this Downtown “crime watch" communicate instantly with police and each other via radio and the internet.  They also meet regularly to proactively address safety and security issues.

Safety E-mail Network provides timely information
The IDI Safety E-mail Network is a public safety awareness and crime prevention program linking more than 700 members via e-mail.  Network members and other IDI partners are regularly informed about street closings, high-traffic volume events, security advisories and safety tips.

Tracking crime statistics proactively addresses crime
IMPD and IDI track crime statistics in Downtown to proactively address crime trends.  Based upon on-going analysis of the statistics, public and private sector safety resources are allocated to meet any security challenges that are identified.  In this way, crime is addressed before it becomes a problem.

Indianapolis Downtown Inc.’s 2008 Downtown Perception Survey showed that 62 percent of Central Indiana residents indicate that Downtown is safe.

Updated 5/09