Local leaders react to curfew proposal, other steps needed to curb downtown youth violence

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis City-County Council is looking into changing the curfew hours for teenagers in the capital city after a mass shooting in downtown that killed two teens.

The proposal would alter hours teens would be allowed out unsupervised in the city, but it does not come with consequences for those found to be breaking it.

”This has nothing to do about penalties,” said Rick Snyder, the president of the Indianapolis FOP. “What kind of message does that send to the youth and the parents involved in these late-night activities?”

Reverend David Greene with the Indianapolis Concerned Clergy agrees, but is looking for consequences that help the parents and kids involved.  

“Instead of just leading with a fine, you’re leading with a parenting class parents need to attend,” he said.

Penalties aside, Snyder said enforcing a curfew can be complicated for Indianapolis police. 

”There’s very little guidance from the city as to what they’ll truly back up when our officers enforce that state law,” Snyder said.

Both agree the curfew is just one small piece of what could be a solution down the road. Greene wants to see more resources for young people who are struggling. 

”A lot of these young people have easier access to guns than they do to job opportunities for the summer or even access to a counselor,” Greene said.

Greene said members of the concerned clergy are sharing messages about stopping this violence with their congregations across the city. 

“You want to share that with everybody,” Greene said. “To the young people that are there, the parents, the grandparents. You need to know where your son or daughter is.”

IMPD Chief Chris Bailey has called on parents multiple times after youth shootings to step up – Snyder echoed that call to mothers and fathers. 

”You have to do your part, you have to do your job,” he said. “And by doing that, you very well may save their life or save them from losing their life to a long-term prison sentence as a result of violence.”

What could immediately change to crack down on teen shootings in downtown Indy isn’t clear. Even the curfew proposal, if it continues, is weeks away from actually being passed. 

But Greene said the wheels need to start turning now to prevent these issues from happening in the years to come. 

”We know these things are going to happen, so we need to be proactive in saying what are we putting in place, knowing the summer is coming,” Greene said.

You can voice your thoughts on the new City-County Council curfew proposal when it goes before the committee on Wednesday, July 16.