INDIANAPOLIS — Randal Taylor will be the the next chief of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
Mayor Joe Hogsett made the announcement Tuesday. Taylor will take over for current IMPD Chief Bryan Roach, who is retiring.
"In addition to the wealth of professional experience that chief brings to this position having served as the assistant chief for the last several years, Chief Taylor's body of work speaks for itself," Hogsett said. "He has worked in public safety in Indianapolis for decades seeing both our public safety agencies and our city change and evolve. Chief Taylor knows where we have been. Most importantly he knows where we are going."
Taylor started his career in law enforcement with the Champaign Police Department in 1987, according to a statement from the city. He served there for six years before joining the Marion County Sheriff's Department in 1993, beginning as a patrol officer and moving into investigations, where he worked on cases ranging from child abuse, internal investigations as well as sex and financial crimes.
During his career, Taylor rose through the ranks earning the title of sergeant, lieutenant and captain. In 2007 after the consolidation of the police department, Taylor worked in IMPD's adult sex crimes and child abuse units. He was appointed commander of community affairs in 2012.
Taylor has served as assistant chief of investigations since 2016, working to improve communications between the community and IMPD.
"It's an incredible honor and I'm truly humbled and grateful for this opportunity to serve this community," Taylor said.
"I've always loved being a police officer and am confident that my love for this department and this profession will continue as I serve in this capacity," Taylor said. "I'm deeply committed to the Indianapolis community and the people who live here, the women and men of the IMPD. I know my love for this community will grow as well as I attempt to build further bridges of trust and make our city safer and support the officers who protect and serve every day."
Taylor also said he will work hard for the victims of violent crime. His family has experienced violent crime with the murder of his father-in-law in Fort Wayne in 1998.
"My father-in-law was murdered by a juvenile," Taylor said. "So trust me when I tell you, I understand what families go through when these kinds of things happen here."
