INDIANAPOLIS – Today, Mayor Joe Hogsett, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana Josh Minkler, and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Chief Randal Taylor announced an effort to increase federal prosecutions of illegally-possessed guns by expanding resources dedicated to the Indianapolis Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC). IMPD will assign four additional detectives and one additional sergeant to this innovative multi-agency partnership, increasing IMPD staffing of CGIC by 25%, as well as training additional gun liaison officers for forensic recovery.
“We know we cannot simply arrest our way to safer neighborhoods. With initiatives focused on addressing everything from food insecurity to affordable education, we are taking a holistic approach to violence reduction,” said Mayor Hogsett. “But today, our message is simple and intentional: if you illegally possess a gun in Indianapolis, we will find you, arrest you, prosecute you, and send you to federal prison.”
Formally launched in January of 2019, CGIC is an embrace of the technology-led precision policing model that uses forensic and ballistic evidence along with gun crime intelligence to more effectively investigate and prosecute violent offenders, remove crime guns from Indianapolis neighborhoods, and disrupt violent crime. In 2019, CGIC led to more than 330 arrests, with 83 defendants charged in federal court, and the seizure of over 250 crime guns.
“The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana supports the steps taken today by Major Hogsett and Chief Taylor as positive steps to combat the gun violence and senseless murders of the citizens of this great city,” said Minkler. “My office stands at the ready to vigorously prosecute those who commit gun crimes. I am committed to see that they receive the strongest sentence possible to ensure they can no longer cause harm to the citizens of Indianapolis and CGIC is one of the greatest tools we have to accomplish just that.”
CGIC is a partnership between IMPD, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, ATF, Indianapolis-Marion County Forensic Services Agency, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, and Fishers Police Department, with Indiana University serving as a research partner.
“Our goal is always for our community to reach out to individuals who may be struggling before they make the decision to pull a trigger,” said IMPD Chief Taylor. “But with these added resources invested in the Crime Gun Intelligence Center, those who choose to harm others with illegally-possessed guns should know they will be held accountable in federal court.”
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