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Indy's Ten Point Coalition shifts attention to Ferguson

Jill Disis
jill.disis@indystar.com

Leaders from the Ten Point Coalition, an Indianapolis anti-crime group, are heading to Ferguson, Mo., this week to meet with members of the troubled St. Louis suburb's faith community.

The Rev. Charles Harrison, who heads the faith-based coalition, said he arranged the meeting with black pastors in Ferguson after several recent incidents, including the shooting of a police officer over the weekend and a number of racially charged incidents in the past two months.

The coalition is planning another trip to the suburb next month to help build trust between the faith community and local police departments, Harrison said. Those relations were thrown into turmoil after a white Ferguson police officer fatally shot Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old, on Aug. 9.

During that trip, Harrison said, Indianapolis leaders hope to train Ferguson locals about community policing and street engagement.

Harrison said he expects to spend a day with black faith leaders in Ferguson this week before he heads back to Indianapolis. The group's future trip might last a few days, he said.

Harrison said Ten Point ultimately wants to help Ferguson brace for the results of a grand jury investigation into Brown's death. The investigation centers on Darren Wilson, 28, the white police officer who killed Brown.

The Associated Press contributed to this story. Call Star reporter Jill Disis at (317) 444-6137. Follow her on Twitter: @jdisis.