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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndiana Gov. Eric Holcomb on Tuesday announced plans to equip Indiana State Police troopers with body cameras by next spring and create a new cabinet-level position in his administration to focus on equity and inclusion.
The announcement comes more than two months after Holcomb said he believed the state needed to take action to address racial inequality and injustice.
The body cameras — which racial justice advocates have been pushing for — are expected to cost the state $5 million to purchase and $1 million annually for data management. The cameras are expected to be phased in and fully implemented by spring 2021.
Holcomb also said he’s ordering a third-party review of all training practices and curriculum at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, which provides the basic training for the majority of law enforcement officers across the state.
The new chief equity, inclusion and opportunity officer for the state will be responsible for identifying shortcomings in administration and finding ways to fix those gaps. This person will report directly to Holcomb and will also serve as an ambassador to minority communities so residents are more aware of the existing available resources from the state.
Holcomb has not yet filled the position, but said he has a shortlist of several external candidates.
Of the 18 current cabinet members, three are minorities.
The administration also plans to create a “public disparity data portal” to identify how the state is — or is not — interacting with minorities. It’s not exactly clear what that portal will include, but it could feature data on whether workforce grants are helping minorities or statistics from the Department of Correction on incarcerations.
Holcomb also committed to continuing to work on issues of sentencing reform and jail overcrowding, but did not release specific actions he’s taking in those areas.
The governor’s announcement comes after a summer of protests against racial inequities, including inequities in minority interactions with law enforcement.
Already, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has signed a $9.2 million contract to equip its officers with body cameras.
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