INDIANAPOLIS — Following a week of protests and riots in the city, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and IMPD Chief Randal Taylor announced major updates to the police department's "Use of Force" policy.
"We must hear the anguished cries of our black neighbors," Hogsett said. "I am listening to those words."
As part of the ongoing efforts to update the public safety policies in Indianapolis, Hogsett says they are updating IMPD's "Use of Force" policy. Some updates are already practiced, but were not included in the policy, while others are newly added.
Hogsett calls the proposed changes a "modernization" of the current IMPD policy, which he says was updated shortly after he took office back in 2016.
"Just last week, we also submitted long-needed changes to the department's 'Use of Force' review board. But it has been clear in listening to those that have spoken out that our 'Use of Force' policy can and should be improved," Hogsett said.
Chief Taylor submitted a new draft of the Use of Force policy Friday morning, Hogsett said.
The following policies were updated or newly added:
- Updating the department's standard for using deadly force.
- Updating the requirement for identification and warning before deadly force is used.
- Banning chokeholds officially within the 'Use of Force' policy
- Providing clearly defined de-escalation requirements.
- Creating a duty-to-intervene and report whenever another officer uses inappropriate force (was previously required, but will now be explicitly included)
- Clear prohibition on shooting into moving vehicles and prohibits shooting from a moving vehicle
- Requires comprehensive reporting of lethal and non-lethal uses of force.
- Clearly specifies rules for using various levels of less deadly force.
A copy of the new use of force policy will be available to the public for its review, Hogsett said.
"While I can't tell you anything today that will heal decades of wounds, I can tell you this: Our department as a whole continue to march toward progress for our community and our citizens," Taylor said.
Watch the full press conference live below.
