Thursday, February 28, 2008

Ballard Makes Changes At IMPD

Mayor Greg Ballard has started to put his own mark as the new leader of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. The first casualties are Deputy chiefs Joseph Bart McAtee and Scott Robinett. They are being stripped of their commands and reassigned to other posts according to the Star's Vic Ryckaert. Ballard press secretary Marcus Barlow tells Ryckaert at least a dozen changes will be made in command ranks. According to the Command Staff list released by the Mayor's office, it looks like City-County Councilor Lincoln Plowman (R) received a nice promotion. Despite the changes, Michael Spears remains as the department's Chief for now. Here's how things stack up after the most recent changes in the department.

Chief of Police Michael Spears
Deputy Chief of Investigations William Benjamin
Deputy Chief of Operations John Conley
Deputy Chief of Administration Bryan Roach
Investigations Asst. Commander Lincoln Plowman
North District Major David Allender
Northeast District Major Becky Lake
Northwest District Major Paul Ciesielski
Southwest District Major Brian Mahone
Southeast District Major Clifford Myers
Downtown District Major Darryl Pierce
Tactical Operations Major Chad Knecht

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

While we're glad mcatte and robbinette have been moved, this organization left too many poor leaders in the upper ranks. To say the rank and file is disappointted would be an understatement. Still, it's a huge improvement from being under the sheriff

Anonymous said...

The above comment is perfect proof that some LEOs, a distinct minority, but vocal, will bitch and moan regardless who's in charge or what's going on.

Join the overwhelming majority of your fellow LEOs, please, and just do the damned job with your mouth shut, OK?

I supported putting the IMPD back in the mayor's control. He may live to regret it. A loud minority of that department cnanot be pleased. I think they wake up angry.

What a lousy way to go through life, huh?

Anonymous said...

6:17---thank you!

Anonymous said...

Did they retire the "EVIL Talley" wig also? I know who could use it...Wilson Allen....heheheh!

Anonymous said...

The Plowman promotion is suspect. I'm sure it had nothing to do with his role as majority leader on the council. I'm sure Gary and/or Adbul will argue that there was no political motive behind that move whatsoever. We Democrats showed everyone time and time again how not to run our city/county but for some reason the republicans refuse to learn.

Gary R. Welsh said...

No defense of Plowman's promotion here, anon 8:13. I continue to maintain that the Indiana Constitution does not allow a police officer to sit on a city council of the city which employs him. You think it is suspect because he is a city councilor whether he earned the promotion or not. That's precisely why we should avoid these inherent conflicts altogether by prohibiting a person from acting as a law enforcement officer and a legislator for the same governmental entity.

Anonymous said...

The Carson appointment to the City Council is suspect. I'm sure it had nothing to do with his grandmother's role as member of congress. I'm sure Jen and/or Wilson will argue that there was no political motive behind that move whatsoever.

The Carson hiring by Cripe and Associdates is suspect. I'm sure it had nothing to do with his grandmother's role as member of congress. I'm sure Jen and/or Wilson will argue that there was no political motive behind that move whatsoever.

The Carson hiring by State Excise despite horrible grades is suspect. I'm sure it had nothing to do with his grandmother's role as member of congress. I'm sure Jen and/or Wilson will argue that there was no political motive behind that move whatsoever.

Anonymous said...

The topic here is IMPD--can we focus please?

Anyone who doubts the following, spend time talking witih Lincoln Plowman. Or observe him on Ch. 16:

The IMPD role Plowman plays is only part of the problem. He is the Peter Principle personified. There's no "there" there. Empty. Completely. Void of functional intellegence.

But Gary is right, and if I heard the Mayor correctly on a recent talk show, he agrees that city employees shouldn't be on the council, and he'll support an ordinance to that effect.

Grandfathering current councillors, of course.

8:13 hit it on the head:
"We Democrats showed everyone time and time again how not to run our city/county but for some reason the republicans refuse to learn."

a-MEN

Lincoln or Monroe in a leadership position and having a good public job: what's the difference? Huh?

Anonymous said...

6:17, No anger here, just disappointed like many of my co-workers that I've talked with so far. We'll see how this turns out

Anonymous said...

10:34: careful what you wish for.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like the Okey-Dokey suffle to me. The same chief, the same friends of the chief in key positions. Yes some of them changed but they are still in leadership roles. Monroe Gray is not a chief anymore but another city council member is appointed by "Ballard", not the chief of Police? No, there really is no surprises here! It is just like Frank Anderson has always said, "There is no room in public safety for politics", Right!
I do hope that the police officers realize that they have been lied to! Dirty politics as usual!

The Indy Chicken said...

God bless Mayor Ballard, Scott Newman and the LEO's of IMPD.

Anonymous said...

8:50
I completely agree with your assessment of Plowman. Not only is there nothing there, he is really arrogant about it. If you have ever met him, it becomes blantantly obvious that the only person he likes or respects is himself.

Anonymous said...

Everyone on the department is thrilled to be out from under the sheriff. Is the current command structure perfect? No, but its definetly a step in the right direction. We're with you Mayor Ballard!

Anonymous said...

You guys are right about one thing with Plowman. You need to meet him. Talk to him. He is not a bad person. Maybe not the smartest, but he appears to care and will listen to your problems. Unlike a lot of other people.

Let us quit back biting and go to work fighting crime.