INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A state senator on Monday said turning the downtown Indianapolis Mile Square over to the state would improve safety both within and outside its boundaries.

Sen. Michael Young, R-Indianapolis, told News 8 he was already working on a proposal to put the Mile Square under state control when seven teens were shot, two of them fatally, shortly after midnight on July 5. He said the city’s recent homicide totals are unacceptable.

“Our No. 1 job as elected officials, no matter where we serve, is the protection of our citizens. It’s public safety,” he said.

Young said he is drafting legislation to carve the Mile Square, which is bounded by North, South, East and West streets, out of the Indianapolis city government. The Mile Square is home to the state government complex, the Indiana War Memorial and Monument Circle, as well as Circle Centre Mall and Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Under his proposal, Young said, the governor would appoint a commissioner for the Mile Square along with one member of a five-member council. The House and Senate would appoint two council members each. Young said Mile Square residents could vote on whether to retain those council members in a manner similar to judicial retention elections.

Young said his plan would free up Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers for patrol duties elsewhere by making the Indiana State Police the primary law enforcement agency responsible for securing the Mile Square. The attorney general would be responsible for prosecuting any crimes there. Young said the state police already has a substantial presence in the area due to the state government complex. Fire protection would come from the existing Indianapolis Fire Department Station 13, which he said could be transferred to Indiana Department of Homeland Security control, for example.

Young said the Mile Square already generates tax revenue through a combination of property taxes, food and beverage taxes, hotel taxes and rental taxes, so he expects the district could pay for itself.

“It won’t cost the city any money, they won’t lose it. Actually, they’ll be able to do better because they’ll have less duties to perform and they can move them outside to the townships to perform those. We won’t have to take any money out of the budget to do it and we won’t have to have anyone outside of the Mile Square actually have to pay for it.”

Democratic Mayor Joe Hogsett’s office did not respond to News 8’s request for comment. Senate Democrats said they were unable to provide any comment.

Young said he plans to formally file the necessary legislation when state lawmakers return in January. He said he’s still working on the language and plans to meet with the governor’s office, the attorney general’s office and the courts in the coming days to figure out the particulars.

About The Author

See author's posts