The Indianapolis Police Department (IPD) (September 1, 1854 – December 31, 2006) was the principal law enforcement agency of
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Mar ...
, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor of Indianapolis and Director of Public Safety. Prior to the consolidation with the Law Enforcement Division of the Marion County Sheriff's Department to form the
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) is the law enforcement agency for the city of Indianapolis, Indiana, in the United States. Its operational jurisdiction covers all of the consolidated city of Indianapolis and Marion Count ...
, 1,230 sworn police officers and 250 non-sworn personnel were employed by the department.
Organization
At the time the agency was dissolved, the Indianapolis Police Department had 1,196 sworn police officers and 30 reserve police officers. At that time the agency was headed by Michael T. Spears, chief of police; Robert Turner, director of public safety; and
Bart Peterson
Barton "Bart" R. Peterson (born June 15, 1958) is an American lawyer and politician who served as mayor of the U.S city of Indianapolis, Indiana. He is also a past president of the National League of Cities. A Democrat, he was first elected in 1 ...
, mayor of Indianapolis.
Patrol districts
* North District - Adam Sector - 4209 N College Ave.
* East District - Baker Sector - 3120 E 30th St.
* South District - Charles Sector - 1150 Shelby St.
* West District - David Sector - 551 N. King Ave.
* Downtown District - Edward Sector - 25 W 9th St.
Rank structure
There were five police districts, each led by a deputy chief. Deputy chiefs reported to assistant chiefs, assistant chiefs reported to the chief of police, and the chief of police was subject to the authority of the mayor.
Police ranks
Uniform
The first officers for the department were identified only by a silver star. The police were put into uniforms in July 1862, consisting of a dark blue coat, light blue trousers with a cord along the seam, and a blue cap.
Over the years the department's uniform underwent several changes. Prior to the merger in 2007, officers were required to maintain both summer and winter uniforms as well as authorized leather goods. Patrol officer badges were silver, while those for sergeants and above were gold. The uniform for all ranks was navy blue. When in
dress uniform
Full dress uniform, also known as a ceremonial dress uniform or parade dress uniform, is the most formal type of uniforms used by military, police, fire and other public uniformed services for official parades, ceremonies, and receptions, ...
officers wore a
peaked cap
The peaked cap, peaked hat, service cap, barracks cover or combination cap is a form of headgear worn by the armed forces of many nations, as well as many uniformed civilian organisations such as law enforcement agencies and fire departments. I ...
adorned with a
cap badge
A cap badge, also known as head badge or hat badge, is a badge worn on uniform headgear and distinguishes the wearer's nationality and/or organisation. The wearing of cap badges is a convention commonly found among military and police forces, as w ...
.
See also
*
List of law enforcement agencies in Indiana
References
Further reading
* Sulgrove, B.R. History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana. Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co., 1884.
* Clipping file, Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library. S.v., Indianapolis Police Department.
{{Authority control
Government of Indianapolis
Defunct law enforcement agencies of Indiana
Defunct municipal police departments of the United States
1854 establishments in Indiana
2006 disestablishments in Indiana