Indy_Guy_77
02-01-2008, 06:50
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080201/LOCAL/802010412
A grim-faced Sheriff Frank Anderson stood with Mayor Greg Ballard on Thursday as they announced that the sheriff would relinquish control of the Police Department to the newly elected administration.
The agreement publicly ended a dispute that began when Ballard won election in November and promised to follow through on his campaign pledge to clarify the chain of command in public safety.
Thursday night, a City-County Council panel voted 6-2, mostly along party lines, to send to the full council a proposal returning control of the police to the mayor. The council is expected to vote on it Feb. 11. With Republicans holding a 16-13 edge on the council, the proposal is expected to pass.
The command changeover is scheduled for Feb. 29, at 12:01 a.m.
After a little more than a year in charge of the merged police force, the Democratic sheriff said he felt it best to "put politics aside," though his opinion that he should remain in charge had not changed.
In agreeing to end their public feud, Anderson avoided a political showdown that he could not have won in the Republican-controlled council. By announcing agreement before the panel hearing, Anderson avoided the possibility of police officers testifying about the department's problems and why many preferred to be under the mayor's authority.
"This will be good for morale," said William Owensby, the president of the city's police union, which opposed moving the police under the sheriff last year. "And I think it means a return to community policing. We've gotten away from that, and we want to get back to it."
Owensby said the officers have been so overwhelmed by the merger and responding to calls for help that they can do little proactive police work, which can reduce crime rather than just capture the criminals.
Ballard, the new Republican mayor, will control the 1,600 uniformed officers and other units of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
Anderson, who is in his second and final term as sheriff, will be left with "significant input" on some matters, such as the appointment of a police chief, public safety director and the chief's executive staff.
In his constitutionally protected position, he also will continue to oversee jail operations, dispatch communications, a civil service division, City-County Building security and the sex and violent offender registry. Anderson, a former U.S. marshal, also will increase his role in apprehending fugitives.
Ballard campaigned last year in part on the notion that voters expected the mayor to be responsible for public safety. At a joint news conference Thursday afternoon at the Indianapolis Law Enforcement Academy, he promised a new level of coordination between the departments.
He said the mayor's office can command greater resources than the sheriff alone. He also said a massive emergency or terrorist event would require all public safety elements to be under the same roof.
"This is no coup d'etat," Ballard said. "This is a passing of the baton. We do this more effectively as teammates."
Thursday's announcement followed weeks of campaigning by Anderson to hold on to the reins. In news releases and in remarks to reporters, he repeatedly said he was the best-qualified person to run the department and was elected specifically for the task.
Ballard also agreed to end his pursuit of legislation in the General Assembly that would permanently place control of the police under the mayor.
Some Democrats at Thursday's council hearing still called for a public vote on who should be in charge. Mary Moriarty Adams questioned whether the change would cost the city money and why it was necessary.
"I heard no allegation that officers will perform better or different with the mayor in charge," Adams said. "In my opinion, this is a political power grab based on the makeup of the council."
Anderson became the department's leader last year when the Indianapolis Police and Marion County Sheriff's departments were merged. In pushing for the merger, then-Mayor Bart Peterson had proposed a power-sharing arrangement, but backed off after Anderson withheld his support unless he was given ultimate control.
Anderson's tenure was marked by low morale among police officers unhappy with the merger and a spike in crime that hit many urban areas across the country. The police union supported Ballard.
As a result of their agreement, Anderson has now ping-ponged from being sheriff of a 400-person suburban department to controlling the largest police force in Indiana to becoming the only sheriff in the state without a territory to protect.
At the news conference, Ballard's public safety director, Scott Newman, promised to dedicate more resources to the fugitive and warrant effort to fight crime and said that Anderson was the right person for the job.
Newman said the agreement was in the works for weeks and produced civil discussions and a thorough analysis of the best way to divide overlapping responsibilities. Newman said he met regularly with Anderson, his attorney Kevin Murray and his top deputy, Kerry Forestal.
The final negotiations were sped up to beat the hearing, Newman said. "If anger flared up at the meeting, it could cause wounds that would not be helpful," he said.
Newman said the slaying of two mothers and their children on Hovey Street in January became a catalyst to work together.
"In an odd way, Hovey Street brought us together," Newman said. "We got back to the roots in focusing on how to combat crime. It helped thaw the pipes of discussion."
Call Star reporter Brendan O'Shaughnessy at (317) 444-2751.
A grim-faced Sheriff Frank Anderson stood with Mayor Greg Ballard on Thursday as they announced that the sheriff would relinquish control of the Police Department to the newly elected administration.
The agreement publicly ended a dispute that began when Ballard won election in November and promised to follow through on his campaign pledge to clarify the chain of command in public safety.
Thursday night, a City-County Council panel voted 6-2, mostly along party lines, to send to the full council a proposal returning control of the police to the mayor. The council is expected to vote on it Feb. 11. With Republicans holding a 16-13 edge on the council, the proposal is expected to pass.
The command changeover is scheduled for Feb. 29, at 12:01 a.m.
After a little more than a year in charge of the merged police force, the Democratic sheriff said he felt it best to "put politics aside," though his opinion that he should remain in charge had not changed.
In agreeing to end their public feud, Anderson avoided a political showdown that he could not have won in the Republican-controlled council. By announcing agreement before the panel hearing, Anderson avoided the possibility of police officers testifying about the department's problems and why many preferred to be under the mayor's authority.
"This will be good for morale," said William Owensby, the president of the city's police union, which opposed moving the police under the sheriff last year. "And I think it means a return to community policing. We've gotten away from that, and we want to get back to it."
Owensby said the officers have been so overwhelmed by the merger and responding to calls for help that they can do little proactive police work, which can reduce crime rather than just capture the criminals.
Ballard, the new Republican mayor, will control the 1,600 uniformed officers and other units of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
Anderson, who is in his second and final term as sheriff, will be left with "significant input" on some matters, such as the appointment of a police chief, public safety director and the chief's executive staff.
In his constitutionally protected position, he also will continue to oversee jail operations, dispatch communications, a civil service division, City-County Building security and the sex and violent offender registry. Anderson, a former U.S. marshal, also will increase his role in apprehending fugitives.
Ballard campaigned last year in part on the notion that voters expected the mayor to be responsible for public safety. At a joint news conference Thursday afternoon at the Indianapolis Law Enforcement Academy, he promised a new level of coordination between the departments.
He said the mayor's office can command greater resources than the sheriff alone. He also said a massive emergency or terrorist event would require all public safety elements to be under the same roof.
"This is no coup d'etat," Ballard said. "This is a passing of the baton. We do this more effectively as teammates."
Thursday's announcement followed weeks of campaigning by Anderson to hold on to the reins. In news releases and in remarks to reporters, he repeatedly said he was the best-qualified person to run the department and was elected specifically for the task.
Ballard also agreed to end his pursuit of legislation in the General Assembly that would permanently place control of the police under the mayor.
Some Democrats at Thursday's council hearing still called for a public vote on who should be in charge. Mary Moriarty Adams questioned whether the change would cost the city money and why it was necessary.
"I heard no allegation that officers will perform better or different with the mayor in charge," Adams said. "In my opinion, this is a political power grab based on the makeup of the council."
Anderson became the department's leader last year when the Indianapolis Police and Marion County Sheriff's departments were merged. In pushing for the merger, then-Mayor Bart Peterson had proposed a power-sharing arrangement, but backed off after Anderson withheld his support unless he was given ultimate control.
Anderson's tenure was marked by low morale among police officers unhappy with the merger and a spike in crime that hit many urban areas across the country. The police union supported Ballard.
As a result of their agreement, Anderson has now ping-ponged from being sheriff of a 400-person suburban department to controlling the largest police force in Indiana to becoming the only sheriff in the state without a territory to protect.
At the news conference, Ballard's public safety director, Scott Newman, promised to dedicate more resources to the fugitive and warrant effort to fight crime and said that Anderson was the right person for the job.
Newman said the agreement was in the works for weeks and produced civil discussions and a thorough analysis of the best way to divide overlapping responsibilities. Newman said he met regularly with Anderson, his attorney Kevin Murray and his top deputy, Kerry Forestal.
The final negotiations were sped up to beat the hearing, Newman said. "If anger flared up at the meeting, it could cause wounds that would not be helpful," he said.
Newman said the slaying of two mothers and their children on Hovey Street in January became a catalyst to work together.
"In an odd way, Hovey Street brought us together," Newman said. "We got back to the roots in focusing on how to combat crime. It helped thaw the pipes of discussion."
Call Star reporter Brendan O'Shaughnessy at (317) 444-2751.