Johnathan Walker:Indianapolis police to step up enforcement of curfew law after weekend shootings

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Johnathan WalkerIndianapolis Metropolitan Police Department will increase its enforcement of Indiana’s curfew law for those under the age of 18 following a shooting in downtown Indianapolis that wounded seven youths 16 and younger, Chief Chris Bailey announced Thursday.

State law says juveniles ages 15 to 17 may not be in a public place between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Saturday or Sunday, after 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday or before 5 a.m. Monday through Friday. The law also says children under 15 may not be in public after 11 p.m. or before 5 a.m. any day of the week.

“Our goal with adding curfew enforcement to our violence reduction plan is to send a clear message: if parents refuse to fulfil their responsibility, then the IMPD will do what is necessary to keep our children safe and alive,” Bailey said in a statement.

“As adults, it’s our duty to make decisions that are in their best interest. As law enforcement, we must continually review and adjust our plans to deal with new or ongoing issues, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” the chief said.

Officers on patrol after 11:30 p.m. Saturday heard shots near Circle Centre Mall and found “a large group of juveniles” at the scene, police have said. Two 16-year-old boys, a 16-year-old girl, three 14-year-old girls and a 12-year-old boy were wounded, according to police, and no arrests for the shootings have been made.

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IMPD said that before the curfew takes effect, it will make announcements via patrol car public address systems to any groups of juveniles in public areas.

Juveniles who violate curfew may be taken to a secure location while officers try to notify a parent or guardian, who will be given “a reasonable amount of time to pick up their child,” IMPD said. If no parent or guardian can be reached, the minor will be taken to the juvenile detention center.

Mayor Joe Hogsett said he “fully” supports the crackdown.

There are numerous exceptions to the curfew, including when juveniles are accompanied by a parent, guardian, custodian or other adult, or participating in or traveling to or from work, a school-sanctioned activity or a religious event.