Indianapolis in midst of homicide spike

INDIANAPOLIS – The city’s mayor says he is looking at ways to strengthen its police department in response to numerous violent deaths in the past two weeks.
Indianapolis police have investigated 11 homicides in nine days since June 30. The most recent deaths were a woman killed Wednesday at her home with her children inside and a man and woman found dead of gunshot wounds late Tuesday.
The city’s overall homicide rate is about the same as last year, but the recent killings come just months after Mayor Greg Ballard took control of the police department away from the Marion County sheriff.

Ballard, a Republican, made public safety a major issue last fall in his successful campaign to upset two-term incumbent Democrat Bart Peterson.

“The fact is no one was in charge of public safety before,” Ballard said at a neighborhood meeting Tuesday. “We had a bad patch here and I don’t really care what they say.”

Marion County Democrats have criticized Ballard, also pointing to the recent arrests of several city police officers on misconduct charges, which led prosecutors to dismiss some drug cases.

“I think the mayor made it pretty clear that he wanted command of the police department. Well, he got it,” county Democratic Party spokesman Terry Burns said. “So I think it’s time for him to step up and take responsibility for his department.”
Police Chief Michael Spears is encouraging residents to help in finding those responsible for the killings.

The recent killings do not appear related and the victims include a 72-year-old man who was shot after pulling a gun to defend a female friend who was being robbed, police said.

The city’s homicide rate for 2008 is slightly below last year. Wednesday’s slayings bring the number of homicides in the city this year to 63. As of July 8 last year, the city had seen 64 homicides, The Indianapolis Star reported.