INDIANAPOLIS — Striking out violence.
That’s the goal of IMPD’s latest effort to cut down on youth crime.
“It’s just the consistency, working with them and being on their level and what they like,” said IMPD officer Iris Farries.
And for nearly 20 Indianapolis teens Thursday afternoon, bowling at Pinheads in Fishers did just that.
It’s all part of IMPD’s C.A.R.E.S (children accepting responsibility for their education and success) program.
It’s an opportunity to not only have fun, but Officer Farries said it also helps them make valuable connections.
“We try to have them under our wing and keep an eye on them. Check in with them periodically. Just to make sure they’re on the right path,” said Farries. “You have so many things influencing our young people in the city. We just want to reach out to them. We talk with the parents, ‘Hey how’s everything going?’ Just to check on them and give them something fun to do so they don’t again, be influenced by negative things going on out there.”
And while the numbers on the screen at the bowling alley may not matter, IMPD said the number of teens involved in crime does.
In 2023, 13 of Indy’s youth (ages 0-17) were shot and killed.
Since Sept. 11 of this year, IMPD numbers show five youths have died in shootings.
In 2023, IMPD said there were 67 non-fatal shootings involving youth ages 0-17. There have been 68 so far this year since Sept. 11.
And its programs like this IMPD hopes will help curb those numbers.
For teens like Yumalay Estrada, the relationships she’s building in the C.A.R.E.S program are invaluable.
She said an officer even helped her get a job, and she hopes other teens will see the value in finding mentors within the department.
“I feel like they should really have that type of relationship with the police because I really like being around her and I feel like when I need somebody to talk to I can talk to her too and have trust in her,” said Estrada.
IMPD said as part of the C.A.R.E.S program, officers go into IPS schools weekly and host events like this as often as they can.
They just hope these efforts make a difference.
“We just try to tap in and it’s just a safe space so that we are that person that they come to when they need help. They don’t run from the police, but they actually run to us and tell us about their problems. We can reach out with resources to help them and their family or their friends,” said Farries.
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