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Indianapolis Star
a day ago
- Politics
- Indianapolis Star
'Step in': Police union leader wants Braun, state leaders to intervene in Indy crime-fighting
The head of the Indianapolis police union is calling for Indiana Gov. Mike Braun and state legislators to "step in" to address violence in Indianapolis after nearly a dozen people were killed during the first two weekends of July. The statement from Rick Snyder, president of the Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police, comes as city officials consider an earlier youth curfew to deter late-night violence like the July 5 mass shooting that killed two teens and injured five other people. Those victims were among 30 people shot and five killed from Friday to Sunday over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, the city's most violent weekend of 2025. Violence continued into this past weekend, with at least six people killed from July 11-14, according to IndyStar's homicide tracker. Snyder called a proposed Marion County curfew that would be two hours earlier a "shallow and shortsighted approach." To bolster the earlier curfew, Indianapolis City-County Council members are discussing the possibility of fines and mandatory parenting classes for parents and guardians whose children repeatedly violate curfew. "It is apparent Indianapolis leaders are stuck in the very corner they constructed with misguided policies and agendas — as now we see nothing but paralysis by politics," Snyder said in his July 14 statement. "It's time for the Indiana Legislature and Governor to step in. Call us, we have solutions." Snyder did not immediately respond to IndyStar's follow-up request to learn more about the specific policies he would propose to state leaders. More: Indy superintendents back youth curfew as IMPD preps for weekend before WNBA All-Star game Despite the recent high-profile incidents of violence, an IndyStar analysis found that significantly fewer killings occurred in Indianapolis in the first six months of 2025 than in previous years. City leaders have reiterated that downtown is Indianapolis' safest neighborhood. Snyder also cast doubt on Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears, saying he's "more focused on what crimes he won't prosecute." A spokesperson for the prosecutor's office rejected that characterization, saying that Mears' office typically files more than 18,000 criminal cases a year and prosecutes 20-25% of cases that reach trial in Indiana annually. Neither Braun, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department nor Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett immediately returned requests for comment sent Monday afternoon. This story may be updated.
Indianapolis Star
5 days ago
- Indianapolis Star
'That's the message, not today,' FOP donates to youth program after mass shooting
Only a few hands stayed lowered when the group of young boys was asked if they'd been personally affected by violence in Indianapolis. There was a pause among the over two dozen kids of all ages reflecting on the question while they stood outside Great Commission Church of God on July 10. Then the hands started going up. "Take a good look at that. That's heartbreaking," Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police Rick Snyder said. He was speaking to the youth involved in Young Men, Inc. The over-30-year-old summer youth organization that focuses on empowering and engaging young men. The Indianapolis FOP Lodge #86 donated $5,000 to the organization, whose leader, Rev. Malachi Walker, said was recently affected by budget cuts. In the wake of recent youth gun violence impacting the city, Young Men, Inc. has one of the longest-running youth programs in the city, and Snyder wanted to make sure the union invested in it. "When you're really facing something tough, a big challenge, maybe something you don't think you can overcome, I want you to say to yourself, 'not today'," Snyder told the kids. "That's the message. Not today. The evil that harmed us over the weekend downtown? Not today. The evil we're facing in our neighborhoods and on the streets? Not today." The move was announced at a press event days after Indianapolis again made national headlines for a mass shooting involving the city's youth in downtown. Willie Tyler, 18, was downtown for the Fourth of July before a mass shooting injured seven people, including two teens who died. Tyler was down there to enjoy the fireworks show, but noticed the sea of young people lingering around and popping off more once the city's event ended. "If my mom wasn't calling me and asking me to come home, that could have been me," Tyler said. "But I had left like not even an hour before that. It was crazy to see that I missed it." Tyler grew up on the east side and just graduated from Warren Central High School. He's been attending the camp since he was 8 years old and gives the organization credit for developing his leadership skills and helping prepare him for college. Still, the city's violence affected him personally when he lost his aunt three years ago. "Someone broke into her house and shot and killed her," Tyler said. Samuel Dunham, 12, said he was adopted from an abusive family. He has PTSD and anger issues, which is how he got involved in the program. "I'm learning how to be a better man," Dunham said. "Before I came here, I was getting into trouble at school, but I'm doing better now." Mass shooting downtown: Mother loses 3 sons to gun violence. Most recently in Indy's downtown mass shooting The boys said that as they grow within Young Men, Inc., they have opportunities to become leaders within the ranks. The roles aren't based on age, but rather discipline. Nehemiah Bridgewater, 18, just graduated from Noblesville High School and feels that organizations need to reach out to more youth at risk so they can experience support. Along with presenting a check, Snyder presented custom Indy 500 FOP race cars for kids and staff. "This is a good collectible for me to put on my dresser," Bridgewater said. "I really appreciate that they acknowledge what we're doing, and that's a really big step for us."
