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Indianapolis Metropolitan Police have tapped one of their own to become the next chief.

Christopher Bailey, who has taken the helm since former Chief Randal Taylor announced his departure in December, will be the police chief. Bailey removed himself as a permanent candidate early in the process but later asked to be reconsidered.

“Nobody knows the challenges of the job better than the person taking on the role today,” said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. "He has the experience, passion and support of many neighbors to take on this role."

Bailey said he initially asked not to be considered because he wanted to shield his young kids from him having such a high-profile role, but after talking to family, specifically his 15-year-old daughter, and receiving their support he asked to be reconsidered.

"Let's continue the work we are doing because, Indy, you deserve nothing less," Bailey said after taking his oath.

Up the ranks

Bailey served as assistant chief under his predecessor Taylor for the past four years, considered the rockiest in the city’s history between social justice protests and a nosedive in staffing levels.

It’s not the first time he’s been considered a shoo-in for the department’s top position when it became open. He had been considered a possible successor to former chief Bryan Roach before he left for a chief position in Asheville, North Carolina in 2019.

He returned to Indy and its police department within a few months to rejoin his family.

"This is my home," Bailey said Monday. The new chief hails from the west side of Indianapolis and graduated from George Washington High School.

"This city, that neighborhood played a crucial role in shaping who I am today," he said, fondly recalling his childhood days of attending church on Blaine Avenue and working in what he called his favorite job to date, a lifeguard for the city.

In the past four years in Indianapolis, he’s been a central part of expanding the Indiana Crime Gun Task Force, which aims to take illegal guns off the street.

Bailey has also advocated for the city’s new public safety technology funded through federal dollars. The technology, which includes cameras, has led to arrests in violent crimes.

In his brief stint as interim chief, Bailey said he was tasked to focus on officer recruitment, address the number of shootings by police and examine the department’s organization.

Challenges ahead

Bailey is becoming chief at a time when deadly shootings by officers have exploded, fissuring relationships with the community that remain strained from the police killing of George Floyd in 2020 and fatal shooting of Dreasjon Reed by an Indianapolis officer on May 6 the same year. The deaths sparked massive demonstrations that devolved into riots downtown.

Last year, Indianapolis officers killed or injured 17 people in separate cases, prompting leaders to seek out an outside consultant to review the shootings.

Bailey on Monday pledged that completing the outside review, to "understand the how and why" behind these cases, remains one of his top priorities. He expects an update about the review will come in the following weeks.

The department has also seen the number of sworn officers shrink over the past several years, recording a shortage as low as 300 officers last August. Bailey said recruitment and retention is top of mind as he takes over the position.

Indianapolis’ gun violence remains a stubborn issue for city police. In 2021, Indianapolis experienced the highest number of homicides in its history — including three mass shootings. Killings have declined since, even dipping to a level last year not seen since 2019, but youth violence has posed a concern among leaders.

Staffing changes

Shortly after his appointment, Bailey made his first move as chief to bring up two members of the department to become assistant chiefs.

Catherine Cummings, formerly deputy chief of training, policy and oversight, and Michael Wolley, formerly the deputy chief of the operations division, were chosen as the first dual assistant chiefs for the department.

Bailey said Cummings will help hone in the department's transparency, "so that our data is available with the click of a button." Cummings also will focus on modernizing officer training.

Wolley's primary role includes community engagement, workforce development and reducing violent crime. Wolley will further examine the department's staffing model to maximize efficiency.

Bailey noted more staffing changes will come in the next few weeks.

"We've been through a lot of challenges as an agency and as a community over the last four years," Bailey concluded. "I can confidently say we have accomplished more by working together."

'Continued progress' Indianapolis reacts to new chief

In a statement, the Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police said the union looks forward to working with Bailey.

"Significant momentum can be reached with this continuity of leadership and continued progress," the statement said. "The professional police officers who faithfully serve the residents, business owners and visitors of Indianapolis remain steadfast in their mission of preserving the law and restoring order all while interrupting crime and violence."

The chief appointment garnered more reactions from public officials and stakeholders as the day went on.

City-County Councilman Ron Gibson on X (formerly known as Twitter) said he looks forward to Bailey's leadership as the city works to "continuously improve public safety."

Rev. Charles Harrison, president of the anti-violence organization the Ten Point Coalition, congratulated Bailey in a post to X, and remarked "the city is in good hands."

Contact reporter Sarah Nelson at 317-503-7514 or sarah.nelson@indystar.com

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis mayor names Christopher Bailey as police chief