Introduction
In an effort to keep the broader Indianapolis community informed, the Indianapolis Liberator is exclusively publishing the following dialogue between the Citizens Concerned About Police Action Shootings Coalition, a growing movement centered around the families of IMPD victims D’armon Graves, Freddie Davis, and Gary Harrell, and the Office of the IMPD Chief of Police.
The list of twelve demands was delivered to Chief Bailey by the Coalition on January 23 during an in-person meeting in which Bailey said there is no set, predetermined time between when officers relinquish their findings to the Prosecutor’s office and the filing of charges against officers in police action shootings.
On January 31, Bailey responded to their demands in writing. On February 6, the coalition has submitted a series of follow-up questions that, as of the time of publication, he has not returned.
Demands, responses, and ongoing questions
Demand: Make it immediate IMPD policy that when an officer/officers are involved in a police action shooting the officer/officers that fired shots be tested for drugs and alcohol on the spot.
Response: Changes to IMPD General Orders are made by the civilian-majority General Orders Board. We are in the process of beginning an outside review regarding the officer involved shootings that occurred in 2023. The final report from this review will be made public, and we will update policies, training, and processes in line with the review’s findings and in conjunction with the General Orders Board.
Follow-up question: Will you verbally or in writing support changes to the General Orders Board?
Demand: Stop the pay of Police Officers who fired shots in a police action shooting until they are exonerated of any wrongdoing.
Response: Under Merit Law, the Chief of Police does not have the authority to stop paying an officer solely due to their involvement in an officer-involved shooting. Please refer to the Merit Law.
Follow-up question: Will you recommend stopping the pay of officers involved in shootings as you rightfully recommended the stop of pay for officer Paul Humphrey after he was caught molesting children in our city?
Demand: Terminate any current police officers who have killed citizens.
Response: Under Merit Law, the authority to terminate an officer is held solely by the Civilian Police Merit Board. Please refer to the Merit Law.
Deadly force incidents involve two separate investigations:
- A criminal investigation of the incident by the agency having jurisdiction where the incident occurred. IMPD may relinquish its criminal investigation to an outside agency with the approval of the Chief of Police or designee; and
- An administrative investigation conducted by the involved officer’s agency to determine adherence to their respective department policy.
IMPD will empanel a Use of Force Review Board to provide additional review of certain incidents. The purpose of this board is to provide input and recommendations to the Chief of Police from both the law enforcement and community perspectives. This board will:
- Conduct hearings and administrative reviews;
- Discuss and deliberate on the issues presented pertaining to compliance with the IMPD directives that specifically govern the use(s) of force at issue; and
- Submit its recommendations in writing to the Chief of Police to improve department policy and training, enhance oversight, and increase safety for officers and the community.
The Board will consist of nine individuals, as follows:
- The captain of the IMPD Training Academy;
- One lieutenant appointed to the Board by the Deputy Chief of the Oversight, Audit, and Performance Division. The lieutenant will serve a term of six months as a non-permanent member, and may be replaced at any time, at the discretion of the Chief of Police;
- One peer officer assigned to the Division of the officer(s) involved in the event
- One non-permanent member appointed by the Chief of Police after nomination by majority vote of the sworn members of the department; and
- Five civilian members, not presently or formerly employed by IMPD or any other police department. Additionally, civilian members may not have immediate family members who are presently or were formerly employed by IMPD or any other police department.
The Use of Force Review Board reviews each deadly force incident after the conclusion of all criminal proceedings.
- The Chief can then make a recommendation for discipline to include termination.
Follow-up question: What is your position? Would you personally support the termination of cops involved in murdering a member of our community?
Demand: Do not hire any police officers from other districts who have killed a citizen.
Response: The Civilian Police Merit Board reviews information provided following an extensive background check by IMPD, and the Civilian Police Merit Board then makes all hiring decisions.
Follow-up Question: We’re aware of the role of this Merit Review Board, would you support not hiring officers from other districts that have murdered citizens in their previous district?
Demand: Do not hire any police officers who have a history of domestic abuse.
Response: As mentioned above, hiring decisions are made by the Civilian Police Merit Board.
- Additionally, a conviction for domestic battery is a prohibition for anyone seeking to join IMPD.
Follow-up question: What is your position of hiring officers with a history of domestic violence? What criteria or rubric does the Merit Review Board work off of in determining to hire or rehire officers?
Demand: Collate and Release the names of current IMPD police officers involved in more than one police action shooting with the details of the victim shot, where, when and prosecution status.
Response: Information on our officer involved shootings can be found at https://www.indy.gov/activity/officer-involved-shootings
Demand: Collate and Release the names of current IMPD police officers involved in more than one physical altercation during an arrest to include but not limited to the victim physically beat,where, when and prosecution status.
Response: IMPD is working on creating a transparency website where use of force information will be available to the community.
Follow-up question: What’s the status of this transparency website and who oversees the site? When will it launch?
Freddie Davis’ family demands
Demand: Release immediately the unredacted Burger King video of the Freddie Davis killing.
Response: The family of Mr. Davis has reviewed the body-worn camera video.
Demand: Release the complete crime lab report of the Freddie Davis killing.
Response: This is still an active criminal investigation, so limited information can be shared.
D’armon Graves family’s demands
Demand: Release the video of Police shooting D’armon
Response: This incident is being investigated by the Indiana State Police. We will release a critical incident video once we have received authorization from the State Police. As is the case in every officer involved shooting, the family of Mr. Graves will see all video before it is released to the public.
Follow-up question: What is the authorization process since you have the video? Can you follow up with the Indiana State Police Department to get their authorization sooner rather than later so this family can proceed with what they would like to do next? They should not have to live in this state of stagnation in getting closure for their family member who was killed at the hands of public safety officers.
Gary Harrell family’s demands
Demand: Fire Police Officer Douglas Correll immediately
Response: As mentioned above, the authority to terminate an officer rests with the Civilian Police Merit Board.
Follow-up question: As mentioned above you’ve already recommended the firing of one officer so can you publicly come out (in support) for his firing?
Demand: Demand to Prosecutor Ryan Mears that he charge Correll immediately
Response: This is still an active criminal investigation so limited information can be shared.
Featured photo: A crowd gathered at a vigil for Frederick Davis, who was shot and killed by IMPD officers. Credit: Indianapolis Liberator.
