Police Start Small To Tackle East-Side Crime

INDIANAPOLIS -- Some east-side Indianapolis residents are urging police to start small in the effort to rid their neighborhoods of crime.

In an area that has issues with violent crime, drugs and prostitution, police will focus instead on the other side of the spectrum, cracking down on so-called minor crimes, 6News' Jack Rinehart reported.

Members of the Near East Side Community Organization said they want to reestablish civility and respect for the law by targeting jaywalkers, bicyclists who ride on the sidewalks, loiterers, litterers and people who park cars in their yards or the wrong way on the streets.

"It's worked in cities like New York and Chicago. You take care of the little things, the big things will actually take care of themselves," said NESCO President Chip Gibson.

Officers have started issuing summons and making arrests, enforcing the minor laws and civil ordinances that directly affect the area's quality of life.

"The hammer is the citation issued in order to get it to stop, because it will start weighing on their pockets," said East District Cmdr. Becky Lake.

Police said many troublemakers in the area don't even live in the neighborhood. Residents said they're willing to take any path that will produce results.

"Hey, we're serious about what we want our neighborhood to look like, and this is the way we're going to start," said resident Chuck Coleman.