Photo: Jill Sheridan/WFYI

Yesterday, Mayor Joe Hogsett unveiled his first campaign ad on television as he gears up for the November election, where he will be vying against Republican opponent Jefferson Shreve for another term as the city’s leader.

The ad, broadcasted on cable, television, and digital networks throughout the city, focuses on Mayor Hogsett’s efforts to address the staffing challenges and understaffing issues plaguing the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD). It highlights his successful recruitment of new IMPD officers, emphasizing the importance of bolstering the department’s ranks. Additionally, the ad claims that officer salaries in Indianapolis are among the highest in the Midwest.

Since at least 2018, IMPD has been grappling with difficulties in hiring and retaining police officers, a problem that worsened during the pandemic when many members of the department opted for early retirement.

The video features narration by Jonas Coleman, a second-generation IMPD officer, who emphasizes the urgent need to address the shortage of police officers. Hogsett’s Republican challenger, Jefferson Shreve, has criticized the mayor for the ongoing police shortage and has made the hiring and recruitment of IMPD officers a central aspect of his campaign.

Sarah Holsapple, spokesperson for Shreve’s campaign, expressed concerns about the ad, arguing that it is “misleading” for failing to acknowledge the persistent understaffing issue within the police department. Holsapple wrote in an email to IndyStar, “At a time when crime rates are higher than ever, we should be supporting IMPD officers instead of exploiting them for political gain.”

In 2021, Indianapolis recorded a record high of 246 criminal homicides, followed by an additional 210 in 2022. However, the city has reported a decrease in criminal homicides and non-fatal shootings this year compared to the same period last year.

Responding to the criticism, the Hogsett campaign emphasized the mayor’s unwavering support for law enforcement. Blake Hesch, campaign manager for Hogsett, wrote in a statement, “With the recent announcement of the next phase in his anti-crime strategy, it is evident that Mayor Joe is committed to supporting our police department and has a comprehensive plan to make Indianapolis a safer city for everyone.”

IndyStar conducted a fact check to provide an in-depth analysis of the claims made in the campaign ad regarding IMPD officer salaries, staffing levels, and recruitment numbers. According to IMPD Assistant Chief Chris Bailey, Hogsett’s administration has indeed recruited 715 new officers from 2016 until March 23, 2023. However, it is important to note that the current number of sworn officers, 1,528, is lower than the 2017 figure of 1,676.

Regarding Officer Coleman’s statement in the ad that Indianapolis boasts one of the highest officer salaries in the Midwest, Blake Hesch clarified that the reference pertains specifically to recruit officer pay, indicating entry-level salaries for first-year officers, rather than the average salary across the entire department.

Sarah Holsapple, spokesperson for Shreve’s campaign, disputed the Hogsett campaign’s interpretation of the ad, asserting that it claimed Indianapolis’ police officers are among the highest paid in the Midwest overall, rather than solely focusing on recruit pay. She argued that Indianapolis does not rank among the top 100 cities for police compensation, as stated in her communication with IndyStar.

Analyzing the facts, it is evident that Indianapolis’ recruit officer pay stands substantially higher than many comparable cities in the Midwest. Recruits in Indianapolis receive a salary of $72,000, surpassing that of cities such as Columbus, OH ($67,000), St. Louis, MO ($49,000), Cincinnati, OH, Detroit, MI, Milwaukee, WI, and Chicago, IL, among others. A significant pay raise in this year’s city budget almost doubled the recruit officers’ salaries compared to 2020 when starting pay was set at $39,000, as reported by Assistant Chief Chris Bailey.

However, it remains unclear whether Indianapolis’ average officer pay ranks among the highest in the Midwest. According to a USA Wage report utilizing data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top 100 highest paying cities as of April 2022 were listed, and Indianapolis did not appear on that list. Peer cities such as Chicago, Columbus, OH, and Milwaukee were cited as having higher average officer salaries.

This story originally appeared in the Indianapolis, Indy Star on June 29th, 2023. Portions of this article have been generated using artificial intelligence.