INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana July 17, 2017 – On the steps of the Statehouse Saturday hundreds gathered to demand answers and justice for the killing of Aaron Bailey. Two Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers shot multiple times through the rear of Aaron Bailey’s car after he wrecked fleeing a traffic stop on June 29, 2017. Aaron Bailey was unarmed at the time.
The Family of Aaron Bailey released the below statement in response to the press conference held by Mayor Joe Hogsett the day before the July 15, 2017 Statehouse demonstration.
“The Family continues to grieve the killing of Aaron Bailey. We thank Mayor Hogsett for recognizing the issues of racial bias and unreasonable use of force involved. The Mayor has offered goals to improve bias training and citizen review of IMPD use of force. We are encouraged by the Mayor’s words, but anxious to see deadlines and concrete steps taken. In particular, the Citizen Police Complaint Board should be given real power to act in cases of racial bias and unreasonable force. A passive board is not a solution.
It is also surprising and disappointing that all IMPD patrol vehicles are not fitted with audio video recording. Automobile camera systems are readily available at reasonable cost. This widely adopted technology would protect citizens and the police.
Aaron Bailey and his family are lifelong Indianapolis residents. We love the city, even as we see how far it needs to come to protect its residents equally. Racially motivated violence will remain a problem until criminal charges are pursued for shootings of unarmed citizens like Aaron Bailey. Given Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry’s close working relationship with the IMPD, we assert that a special prosecutor is necessary to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. We hope the death of Aaron Bailey will lead to peaceful measures to stop racial bias and unreasonable force.”
