INDIANAPOLIS — The Ten Point Coalition is starting the new year with a new mission, and that mission is a new neighborhood to patrol.
"We're gonna expand to another area on the far east side," the Rev. Charles Harrison said. "Last year we got calls from neighborhoods all over the far east side about us coming in to help."
Harrison said Ten Point is now answering those calls for assistance on the other side of Mitthoeffer Road. The faith-based organization will patrol the neighborhood between 38th and 42nd Streets and east toward German Church Road.
Harrison said his organization is leaving the neighborhoods along Post Road in part due to in-fighting with other organizations hoping to leave their own positive mark on the far east side.
"One of the challenges is when you have turf battles that makes it difficult because the key is everybody working together," Harrison said. "The quarterback is the quarterback. The wide receivers are the wide receivers. A running back is the running back, and everybody has to do their part if the team is going to be successful."
Harrison said the challenges facing Ten Point's new patrol area will sound familiar, but he noted the area east of Mitthoeffer Road is home to fewer community groups and just as much crime.
"A high number of aggravated assaults, a high number of shootings and certainty homicides in this area," he said.
Harrison said Ten Point plans to patrol its new area for the next six months. In the meantime, he hopes to curb violence and increase collaboration with nearby community groups.
"Instead of seeing each other as competitors, we all do different things," he said. "We all bring our strengths to the table and I think it takes everybody."
