Officers are working off-duty and overtime in Broad Ripple — but they need more help, including more security and daytime business.
INDIANAPOLIS — Following recent shootings in Broad Ripple over the weekend, the Broad Ripple Village Association is discussing what it needs to help curb violence.
IMPD said it does not have the data for Broad Cripple crime and whether crime has increased in the neighborhood.
“We are hearing about it more, and it comes in waves, right?” said Jordan Dillon, executive director for the BRVA. “Obviously, if you compare this to 2020 or 2021, numbers were generally lower because we weren’t out as much.”
Dillon did a walk-along with IMPD Friday night. The neighborhood works with IMPD consistently, which has put in new cameras. Officers are working off-duty and overtime in this area. However, they need more help.
“I’m trying to work with the Mayor’s Action Council as well to get our representative from there to get over here and try to help us with some resources and help us because I’m the only person at the BRVA, and there’s a ceiling to what we’re capable of doing,” Dillon said.
According to Dillon, loitering in area parking lots is a big problem, which then leads to crime.
“A lot of issues that we have right now are under-21-year-olds that are down here at night, Friday and Saturday night, hanging out in parking lots,” Dillon said. “There’s no restrictions or laws on what we can try to do to get rid of that. That’s one issue.”
Dillon is urging businesses to hire security to monitor parking lots.
“A lot of our parking lots, our businesses or our companies who own parking lots in the area, we’re asking them to make sure they have them monitored with security at night and/or requiring people to pay to use those lots,” Dillon said.
Dillon told 13News the lot in Broad Ripple Station was closed the final weekend of July 2022. According to IMPD, this happens at the discretion of supervisors at the scene to protect pedestrians and prevent people from driving around Broad Ripple.
Another issue, according to Dillon, are sound ordinances from vehicles and businesses.
Dillon said the BRVA is seeing more daytime businesses and office traffic beginning to come into Broad Ripple.
“We want more of that daytime business, so our bars and restaurants don’t feel like they have to stay open until 3 a.m. just to be able to pay their rent,” Dillon said. “They could close at midnight if they want to and still be able to make the great revenue that they’re making right now.”
If you witness a crime or have video, Dillon urges you to go directly to IMPD.
