https://www.ibj.com/articles/holcom...utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=2020-08-18
...Gov. Eric Holcomb on Tuesday announced plans to equip Indiana State Police troopers with body cameras by next spring and create a new cabinet-level position in his administration to focus on equity and inclusion.
The announcement comes more than two months after Holcomb said he believed the state needed to take action to address racial inequality and injustice. Holcomb said he has been talking to Black business owners, church leaders, college presidents and law enforcement officials since then to better understand what changes needed to be made.
He said he was told to think about the big picture and get at the root cause of inequity instead of only reacting to the symptoms.
“While we have made progress—and we have—we haven’t rooted it out fast enough,” Holcomb said. “Gaps persist and some are widening.”
The body cameras—which racial justice advocates have been pushing for—are expected to cost the state $5 million to purchase and $1 million annually for data management. The cameras are expected to be phased in and fully implemented by spring 2021.
Holcomb also said he’s ordering a third-party review of all training practices and curriculum at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, which provides the basic training for the majority of law enforcement officers across the state.
The new chief equity, inclusion and opportunity officer for the state will be responsible for identifying shortcomings in administration and finding ways to fix those gaps. This person will report directly to Holcomb and will also serve as an ambassador to minority communities so residents are more aware of the existing available resources from the state...
...Gov. Eric Holcomb on Tuesday announced plans to equip Indiana State Police troopers with body cameras by next spring and create a new cabinet-level position in his administration to focus on equity and inclusion.
The announcement comes more than two months after Holcomb said he believed the state needed to take action to address racial inequality and injustice. Holcomb said he has been talking to Black business owners, church leaders, college presidents and law enforcement officials since then to better understand what changes needed to be made.
He said he was told to think about the big picture and get at the root cause of inequity instead of only reacting to the symptoms.
“While we have made progress—and we have—we haven’t rooted it out fast enough,” Holcomb said. “Gaps persist and some are widening.”
The body cameras—which racial justice advocates have been pushing for—are expected to cost the state $5 million to purchase and $1 million annually for data management. The cameras are expected to be phased in and fully implemented by spring 2021.
Holcomb also said he’s ordering a third-party review of all training practices and curriculum at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, which provides the basic training for the majority of law enforcement officers across the state.
The new chief equity, inclusion and opportunity officer for the state will be responsible for identifying shortcomings in administration and finding ways to fix those gaps. This person will report directly to Holcomb and will also serve as an ambassador to minority communities so residents are more aware of the existing available resources from the state...
