Today, Chief Chris Bailey announced Captain Scott Hessong will be the new Commander of Downtown District and Lieutenant Corey Mims will be the new Major of the Community Engagement and Outreach Bureau. These appointments come in anticipation of Commander Ida Williams and Commander Phil Burton’s upcoming retirements. The planned retirements have offered a unique opportunity for these transitions to occur. A private ceremony will be held at a later date. Lieutenant Mims’ appointment will be effective July 15, 2024, and Captain Hessong’s appointment will become effective in late August. The appointments take effect upon Commander Williams and Commander Burton’s respective retirements.
Captain Scott Hessong appointed to Commander of Downtown District
Commander Hessong was raised on the west side of Indianapolis and graduated from Ben Davis High School. After high school, he went to Ball State University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
Commander Hessong started his law enforcement career with the Indiana State Police (ISP) in January 1995. He left the ISP in August 1997 and joined the Indianapolis Police Department (IPD). Commander Hessong started his IPD career working East District on middle shift, late tact shift, and late shift until 2001. During this time, he served as a field training officer. Commander Hessong transferred to the Traffic Division in 2001 as a motorcycle officer until 2005 when he returned to East District on day shift.
Commander Hessong was promoted to sergeant in September of 2005, where he served as the East District Neighborhood Resource Supervisor. In June of 2006, Commander Hessong was asked to assist in starting a new unit called the Street Level Enforcement Detail (SLED). He then served time as an Internal Affairs Investigator from June 2008 to September 2010, when he was asked to assist a new unit called the Special Investigations Unit (SIU). Commander Hessong is also a graduate of the IMPD Leadership Academy (2010-01) and of the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP).
Commander Hessong was promoted to lieutenant in December 2010, while serving as the SIU Commander. In October 2013, he became the late shift lieutenant for Southwest District until October of 2017, when he was asked the be the Southwest District Impact Lieutenant over Community Relations, FLEX team, and the Narcotics Unit. He remained in this position until July 2018, when he was promoted to Captain.
Commander Hessong then took on the role as the Assistant Training Commander at the IMPD Training Academy. In this role, he was the Chairperson of the Accident Review Board, a permanent member of the Firearms Review Board, and served on the Use of Force Board. In 2021, Commander Hessong assumed the role of the Downtown District Captain until June of 2024, where he served as the East District Captain on day shift.
Commander Hessong has been married to his high school sweetheart, Becky, for more than 28 years and has two children. He enjoys spending time with them when he is not working.
Lieutenant Corey Mims appointed to Major (Community Engagement and Outreach Bureau)
Major Mims joined the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police (IMPD) in 2015 after previously working for Marion County Sheriffs Office (2010-2012) and Bloomington IN Police Department (2012-2015). He started his career on IMPD Southeast District middle shift. During his time as a patrol officer, he worked as a field training officer. Major Mims also spent time as a member of the IMPD Traffic Unit.
Major Mims was promoted to sergeant in 2021 and was assigned to North District where he worked middle as well as late shift. He was later assigned to the North District Violent Crimes Task Force and Community Relations Unit. Major Mims was promoted to Lieutenant in 2023 and assigned to Commercial Crimes Branch (Vice, Human Trafficking, and Nuisance Abatement). Mostly recently, Major Mims served as the lieutenant of the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force.
Major Mims is a 2020 graduate of the IMPD Leadership Academy and currently serves as a Leadership Academy Mentor. Major Mims is a certified ILEA General and Emergency Vehicle Operations (EVO) instructor and often assists with recruit training. He was also a member of IMPD Crisis Negotiator Unit (CNU) and Event Response Group (ERG).
Major Mims grew up on the east side of Indianapolis and later graduated from Speedway High School. After high school, he attended Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis and studied criminal justice. Major Mims is married with four children and enjoys spending time with family and friends when he's not working.
