Massive sweep is largest in IMPD's history

More than 150 officers swept across several neighborhoods on Saturday as part of the largest tactical operation in Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s history. ​

Named Operation First Step, the sweep's goal was to remove some of the most violent offenders, and those with propensities for violence, from Indianapolis' streets. Officers flooded areas frequented by drug dealers, and searched for people with open warrants or parole violations, IMPD Chief Troy Riggs​ told IndyStar.

Officers also detained people who police believe may have vital information that can help detectives solve open cases.

“This is not a blanket sweep,” Riggs said. “This is about making quality arrests."

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By Saturday's end, police had arrested 26 people. Officers also seized four handguns, 13 grams of heroin, 8.5 grams of cocaine and marijuana, $3,500 in cash and three cars. They also disrupted a marijuana growing operation in the basement of an east-side home and brought down a bootlegger, seizing 92 bottles of gin, 23 bottles of vodka and 182 cans of beer.

Standing in the Regional Operations Center on the city's east side, Riggs updated an IndyStar reporter on the night's progress.

"On the street, they're already hearing we're out," Riggs said.

As officers moved in on target houses, word quickly made its way back to the ROC, as the center is called. The number of arrests, penned in blue ink on a whiteboard, is erased and re-tabulated.

And in the Department of Homeland Security Situation Room, investigators scoured the social media accounts of those arrested, looking for photos and videos that may help strengthen the cases against them.

Each warrant team, Riggs said, consisted of 15 to 20 officers. The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, and other city agencies assisted IMPD during the operation. Faith leaders, too, helped to comfort those who were around to see their loved ones taken away in handcuffs.

The arrested suspects were brought back to the ROC for questioning, then moved to the Marion County Jail for processing.

Near dusk, IMPD narcotics officers raided a home in the 1600 block of N. Irvington Avenue. A young woman, tears welling up in her eyes, held a small child on her lap as officers entered the house.

Eventually a man was brought out in cuffs and placed in the jail transport van. He's facing charges of possession and dealing drugs.

Claude Commodore, who lives near the home, told IndyStar that he's glad to see police doing this kind of work "the right way."

"It's just good no one's hurt," Commodore said. "Things are going the way they should be done: straightening up and cleaning up the neighborhoods."

All told, 162 IMPD officers, federal agents and clergy members participated in the sweep. They targeted areas inside IMPD's North, East and Northwest districts.

In January, when Riggs and Mayor Joe Hogsett laid out their plans to curb violence and crime in the city, the duo spoke about a list of 1,400 people with outstanding warrants related to assault or weapons violations, including 91 people with warrants out in both. It wasn't immediately clear if Saturday's operation was connected to that list.

The operation comes as IMPD homicide detectives continue to make several arrests in recent slayings, re-enforcing Hogsett’s pledge to overhaul public safety after the city witnessed 144 criminal homicides last year, making it the city's deadliest year.

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Hogsett's and Riggs' plans also called for a stronger commitment to community policing, including an expansion of so-called beat cops with more focused patrol areas. The goal, they've said, is to improve the relationship between police and members of the community, as well as forge partnerships to help fight crime.

On Monday, officers will return to the neighborhoods where warrants were served, Riggs said. The operation has concluded, but neighborhoods will see increased police activity as officers follow up on leads gathered Saturday night.

Officers also will talk to residents in those neighborhoods, asking for feedback on the operation.

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IndyStar reporters Madeline Buckley and Jill Disis contributed to this story. 

Call IndyStar reporter Michael Anthony Adams at (317) 444-6123. Follow him on Twitter:@michaeladams317.