IMPD rolls out mobile gaming trailer
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Inside and outside of IMPD's gaming trailer. Photos: Courtesy of IMPD
Indianapolis police are taking video games into neighborhoods to build stronger relationships with young residents and their families.
Why it matters: The new IMPD Gaming Trailer puts prevention and relationship-building alongside enforcement as the department faces questions about safeguards on other technology it uses.
Driving the news: The trailer, unveiled Thursday, was paid for by a $100,000 Legacy Impact Grant awarded to the Central Indiana Police Foundation by the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation.
- Of that, $50,000 was earmarked for the gaming trailer's purchase and customization, and the other $50,000 for youth programming including the Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) summer camp.
How it works: Equipped with televisions and consoles, the trailer will be deployed throughout Marion County, with educational programming included at each stop.
- "Prevention, mentorship and relationship-building are just as important as enforcement when it comes to public safety," Lt. Allen Tuttle of IMPD's Community Engagement and Outreach Bureau said in a statement. "This trailer allows our officers to meet kids where they are, right in their own neighborhoods, and interact in a positive, memorable way."
- When discussing the trailer with WRTV, Tuttle said the department has missed the mark on connecting with Indy's youth, and he believes this can help fill that gap.
Between the lines: Both community members and IMPD employees called for alternative interventions and partnerships when responding to incidents involving young people, according to research that shaped the department's new strategic plan.
- Those connections could also bolster IMPD recruiting over time.
- IMPD's ongoing staff shortages were described as "directly impacting officer morale and the department's ability to reduce crime, and could threaten the department's long-term sustainability" in strategic plan research.
Yes, but: IMPD's use of technology to modernize the department has had its ups and downs.
- One downside: Alleged misuse of IMPD's Flock system led to fraud and official misconduct charges against five current and former officers.
- IMPD has implemented tighter ALPR access requirements and daily auditing. A General Order codifying the rules remains under consideration.
- Last month, IMPD's General Orders Board tabled the order to a future meeting because of questions from the public.
The bottom line: IMPD is betting that a familiar, low-pressure setting can build relationships before officers and young people meet during a crisis.