Indianapolis, IN

Cutting back: IMPD eliminates 100 positions, pushes retention, recruitment

Published

2 years ago

April 24, 2024

Cutting back: IMPD eliminates 100 positions, pushes retention, recruitment

INDIANAPOLIS — Federal funding meant to hire more officers in Indianapolis’ police department has been repurposed to keep the ones they have after the vacant positions went unfulfilled for three years.

Initially earmarked for 100 new officer jobs, the money has been steered toward providing retention bonuses for Indianapolis Metropolitan police after staffing goals fell short and the funding for the appointments expires at the end of this year.

“We shifted those funds because it became clear that we were struggling to get people into the door,” said Asst. Chief Catherine Cummings, who was chosen for her role in February. “I can’t say it any more simply or more directly than that.”

While the change is not a major upheaval in strategy for the police agency, as the city has made multiple attempts to plug the drain of officers leaving the department, the shift in money reflects the continuing challenges Indianapolis police face in beefing up the ranks.

Currently, the police department is 266 people short of the 1,743 officers allowed in its local budget, a gap that’s become typical in the past few years.

An opportunity to increase the number of officers came three years ago in the form of an unprecedented amount of money through the American Rescue Plan Act. The city routed the dollars in 2021 toward its three-year public safety plan, part of which boosted the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s staffing capabilities by another 100 jobs, totaling 1,843 positions.

Context: Here’s how Indianapolis will spend $419M in federal relief money

Indianapolis officials lauded the historic sum of federal money as a critical part of addressing the city’s public safety issues, specifically, record-breaking homicides.

Now, that staffing goal is being scaled back, with the department resorting to its initial target of 1,743 officer jobs — an objective that hasn’t been reached in at least the past 17 years, according to police data, even when the agency reported its highest number of officers in 2020.

The city has tried to combat the shortage for years by continuously boosting the department’s budget and officer salaries, including Mayor Joe Hogsett bumping first-year officer base pay last year to $72,000.

But Indianapolis’ police department, and agencies across the country, are facing a “historic” hiring and retention crisis in the “wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, a tightening labor market, heightened community frustration with the policing profession, and concerns about officer safety and well-being,” according to a report published last year by the U.S. Department of Justice.

“We are working very hard to overcome that,” Cummings said. “Everyone is struggling to hire, which is why we have to get more creative about our messaging.”

‘More proactive’ recruiting

To bring in new faces, the police department has recently embarked on a “more proactive” approach to recruiting.

Patrol officers at each of the police department’s six districts will host open houses for residents to learn more about joining the ranks.

Prospective applicants can talk with officers directly to learn more about the job, sign up for a ride-along and meet members of the agency’s various units, including the K9 Unit, Indiana Crime Guns Task Force, bomb squad, detectives and more.

Using patrol officers to recruit is the latest move to come out of the department to fill its staffing gaps, a duty that’s historically fallen to top brass. The initiative stemmed from conversations among members of the Southeast District, which includes the neighborhoods of Fountain Square, Twin Aire and Christian Park. The district’s first recruiting event took place in late March.

“Our upper administration (wanted) to bring the community closer, so why not have it in the heart of the community at roll call where (people) can come in here and talk to any veteran officer they want?” Officer Douglas Lepsky said.

To learn more about becoming an Indianapolis officer, visit indy.gov/activity/become-a-police-officer-with-impd. Possible applicants interested in joining but not ready to make the jump, learn more by visiting JoinIMPD.Indy.Gov.

Contact reporter Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com

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Indianapolis, IN

The Zone Extra | April 18, 2026

Published

9 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — It was another busy week in high school sports in central Indiana and ‘The Zone Extra’ has it all covered.

Athlete of the week and Guerin Catholic senior outfielder Ian Taylor is off to a scorching hot start to the young season. Check out his interview as well as Guerin Catholic head coach Dave Schrage talk about Taylor’s success.

The Johnson County baseball tournament came to a close. See highlights from Center Grove’s tournament victory.

The 4A baseball coaches poll was released as well as the 3A softball coaches poll.

The former Columbus North gymnastics coach, John Hinds, passed away at 88 years old.

Center Grove head softball coach Alyssa Coleman joins the show for a coaches corner conversation.

See highlights from the Colts Local Pro Day, featuring several former Hoosiers and Purdue’s Devin Mockobee.

Girls lacrosse is in the first season as an IHSAA emerging sport.

All of that, and more, can be found in the full The Zone Extra show above.

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Indianapolis, IN

Tornado watches issued for counties north and west of Indianapolis

Published

21 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Tornado watches issued for counties north and west of Indianapolis

(WISH) — A tornado watch was issued until 3 a.m. EDT Saturday for counties northwest and west of Indianapolis, and into Illinois.

Indiana counties in the watch area are Boone, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Elkhart, Fountain, Fulton, Howard, Kosciusko, La Porte, Marshall, Miami, Montgomery, Parke, Pulaski, Putnam, St. Joseph, Starke, Tippecanoe, Vermillion, Vigo, Wabash, Warren and White. The watch area includes the cities of Crawfordsville, Elkhart, Lafayette, Lebanon, South Bend, Terre Haute, and West Lafayette.

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has issued two watches in Indiana. The other one until midnight EDT Friday includes the Indiana counties of Benton, Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter. That includes the city of Gary. That watch also extends into Illinois.

Storms on Friday night in central Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota led to dozens of confirmed tornado warnings. The storms in central Illinois has gusts up to 80 mph, and tornadoes embedded in heavy rain.

An alert issued after 10:30 p.m. Friday from the National Weather Service at Indianapolis said, “A line of strong thunderstorms is nearing the state line with a history of widespread damaging winds and tornadoes. The line is expected to continue to produce damaging winds as it moves into Indiana with the potential for additional tornadoes. The line is then expected to gradually weaken as it moves further into the state.”

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Indianapolis, IN

St. Benno Fest returns to the Athenaeum

Published

1 day ago

April 17, 2026

Press Room

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Athenaeum in downtown Indianapolis is getting ready to welcome spring with its annual St. Benno Festival this Saturday.

Organizers say it’s one of the longest-running cultural festivals in Indianapolis.

St. Benno Festival is based on the German tradition of “Frühlingsfest,” the springtime version of Oktoberfest, Athenaeum Foundation President Craig Mince says.

“It would always be the festival that would open up the beer garden,” Mince said. “So that was kind of their kickoff of the spring and that warmer season. “

The Athenaeum’s celebration focuses on St. Benno, the patron saint of anglers and the city of Munich, Germany.

There’s a lot of folklore surrounding St. Benno. He’s said to have created Bach beer. He also had a sidekick, “Einbeck,” which means “billy goat” in German.

Legend has it that when the invaders were coming to Munich, he threw the key to a church into a body of water. Years later, he caught a fish that had eaten the key and retrieved it.

“When the German immigrants came here to central Indiana, Indianapolis in particular, they started to organize,” Mince said. “They celebrated Benno. They celebrated Bach beer. So that was kind of the beginning of this institution.”

St. Benno Fest will include lots of beer, pretzels, and Gomez BBQ’s doner kebab.

Francene Thomas, the Athenaeum’s event and festivals manager, says there’s a lot of thought that goes into the menu.

“We want to definitely bring the tradition of this festival and continue that, but also, just bring some fresh flavor to it, too.”

The celebration serves as a fundraiser for the Athenaeum. Money raised will go back into maintenance and other events that promote German culture.

Tickets are $25 and can be bought in advance on the Athenaeum website. St. Benno Fest is a 21+ event and runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

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