INDIANAPOLIS -- Police in Indianapolis are back on the beat.
As part of Mayor Joe Hogsett's 100 day public safety plan, officers returned on Thursday to patrolling smaller, traditional beats rather than a zone policing model.
IMPD hopes by returning to a beat system the department will be able to reduce crime, reduce fear of crime and enhance public safety.
"As many have said, it is difficult for our officers to be able to engage citizens when they are responsible for covering large areas of the city," said IMPD Chief Troy Riggs when the plan was unveiled in March.
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19 beats have been added to the current 33 patrol zones.
IMPD says the new beats account for more than 45 percent of homicides in 2015 and 35 percent of non-fatal shootings since 2012.
The six previous Focus Areas will now be made up of eight beats
There are also four entertainment zones: Broad Ripple, Fountain Square, Mass Ave. Corridor and the South Meridian Corridor.
The patrol zones are outlined in red in the map below. Beats are in white. The cities in gray-shading are excluded.
IMPD was able to put more officers on the streets and into the beat areas because of the addition of a new recruit class.
Funding comes from the existing IMPD budget.
