Greg Ballard for Mayor
Wednesday, October 10th, 2007 
BALLARD CALLS FOR ACTION TO CURB RECENT NORTHSIDE CRIME EPIDEMIC
Police Consolidation is not Working, Mayor Must Reestablish Community Policing in Indianapolis
Indianapolis- Greg Ballard, Republican candidate for Mayor of Indianapolis, today criticized the Mayor for not taking public safety seriously. Standing in front of a burned out building, rumored to be a pea shake house, Ballard lamented inaction in the wake of recent increases in crime.
“Despite what Bart Peterson says, his police consolidation was a failure and the recent rash of murders and arsons on the near north side is an unfortunate reminder of Bart Peterson’s poorly executed plan.” Ballard stated. “Police response times have significantly increased since the merger, and unfortunately police are stretched too thin to adequately protect city residents,” Ballard continued. Ballard made his remarks in the wake of a murder spree near the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood in the past few days.
“If Bart Peterson were serious about public safety, especially on the near north side, he would have taken steps to get back to community policing,” Ballard said. Ballard continued, “The Mayor refuses to acknowledge that police in the neighborhoods establishing ties with the communities is the most effective way to prevent crime. If he had heeded our call months ago to re-open the North District sub-station, the violent crimes plaguing this area could have been prevented.”
In response to the City County Council’s vote last night to park 400 city-owned cars, Ballard said, “The Council did not go far enough. Some of those cars could be sold, and still more non-emergency officials need to give up their city cars for personal use.” Ballard continued, “Unfortunately, the Mayor’s administration is still playing politics with our public safety, and not giving the police what they need to protect our city,”
Ballard continued, “Why do Monroe Gray and Vern Brown still use their city cars for their own personal use? They are non-emergency city employees who drive around on the taxpayer’s dime. Why is the Mayor not calling on them to lead by example and give up their city cars too? It’s time to put politics aside and protect the citizens of Indianapolis.”
“If I am elected I will strengthen community policing, establish successful neighborhood efforts like former Mayor Goldsmith’s “Front Porch Alliance” and I will work to convince the City Council that ultimate authority for law enforcement should be placed back under the office of mayor,” said Ballard.