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Merger Has Appearance of
An Acquistion
The word merger sent messages of ambiguities to onlookers at the January 2 celebration of the new Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. Despite the word merger being used, the consolidation between the Indianapolis Police Department and Marion County Sheriff's Department gave more of an appearance of a business acquisition by the Sheriff's Department.As the inauguration celebrated the two entities merging, it was evident that separation between departments still existed even down to the point where the sheriff's department and police department were seated on opposite sides of the stage. Two flags were even displayed, that of the new Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Anderson administered different oaths of office to IMPD Chief Spears and MCSD Chief Kerry Forestal.
Sheriff Frank Anderson was wearing and will continue to wear his brown uniform as part of the constitutionally created position . According to one unidentified source from Metropolitan Emergency Communication Agency, employees (MECA) will still wear the brown uniforms because this agency reports to the Sheriff's Department.
The inauguration marked the end of Indianapolis Police Department's 152 years of service. Words of dignity honored the past while the words unity and peace noted a new chapter in the history of a unified police department. The merger is one of the final steps of completion to Uni-Gov that started 37 years ago. Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson and former U. S. Representative Andrew Jacobs talked about the importance of the merger in its relation to Uni-gov.
"It's not about the brown. It's not about the blue. It's about what we do" Anderson said. Despite these words, the deputies have given up their tan and brown uniforms and cars for blue uniforms and gray cars. The white IPD cars will also be phased out.
Not all were happy about the merger, a group of protesters consisting of off duty IPD officers and concerned citizens circled in front of the convention center to display their mistrust of Peterson. A person wearing a chicken costume held a "Bart Lies" sign.
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 86 was not in favor of the merger under the administration of Vince Huber. Although Huber lost the FOP election to Aaron Sullivan, FOP members still remain unhappy with the loss of a five percent retroactive back pay offered by the city. New MCSD Police Chief Kerry Forestal remarked during the ceremony that all are not agreeable with the merger but assured the public when it comes to emergency calls, the issues will be pushed aside to do the job. Anderson appointed Forestal to this position.
Justin Ohlemiller, spokesperson for the mayor, said the demonstrators have their rights to free speech, "but we are here to focus on the merger and its benefits to the public. The new command structure is lean and will end duplication of positions." The lean structure should add 137 additional officers to the streets by 2008. Part of this will be accomplished through retiring ranks of officers. Redundant supervisor positions will be eliminated as supervisors retire, allowing more road officer positions to be created.
Efficiencies have already been reported under the merger. A former sheriff's deputy, now wearing the blue IMPD uniform, stated that he no longer has to gather evidence as required when he was a deputy. As an IMPD officer, he contacted a crime lab technician who came to the crime scene. This freed him up to go on another run.
 Remonstrators protested the merger in front of the Convention Center Photo by Jay Thompson |
 Sheriff Frank Anderson swears in Michael Spears as the IMPD Chief. Photo by Jay Thompson |
 Former U. S. Congressman Andrew Jacob was among the dignitaries at the inauguration. Photo by Jay Thompson |