INDIANAPOLIS -- Bryan Roach was introduced Wednesday as the new chief of the Indianapolis Police Metropolitan Department by Mayor Joe Hogsett.
Roach is a member of IMPD’s Executive Command Staff who served for the past year as the department’s assistant chief of administration under former chief Troy Riggs.
Prior to that, Roach served as the Deputy Chief of Administration for the Department and had previously served as Interim Deputy Director for the Department of Public Safety since August of 2015.
Mayor Hogsett says Roach has streamlined department processes, found efficiencies and identified significant savings of taxpayer dollars. He recently authored a grant that added 15 beat officers for three years at a savings of several million taxpayer dollars.
Hogsett says Roach's leadership has created an atmosphere of cooperation among government and private agencies that led to better public service.
@IndyMayorJoe has asked me to serve as Chief. I can't be more proud to stand beside you as we cont. to give meaningful service to citizens. pic.twitter.com/g1q0MWpxLj
— Chief Bryan Roach (@IMPD_Chief) January 11, 2017
As a department we should be really good at protecting rights of those we serve. We must treat people as people. There must be collaboration
— Chief Bryan Roach (@IMPD_Chief) January 11, 2017
Roach was one of the early favorites of Mayor Joe Hogsett, according to sources familiar with the search and interviews, but he wasn’t chosen until after extensive interviews and conversations with the entire IMPD command staff.
At a press conference Wednesday, Hogsett called Roach an "exemplary officer" who has held every rank in IMPD during his career.
"Throughout his career, Bryan has proven himself an exemplary officer and a dedicated leader, with a commitment not just to his career but also to his community," Hogsett said.
Indianapolis FOP President Rick Snyder released the following statement:
"This is a significant step forward for the IMPD. Bryan Roach is the right person at the right time for this agency and our City. We could not be more pleased by the Mayor's decision. Brian Roach is a person of character, integrity and is the consummate professional in all his dealings. He enters the role of Chief as an officer who has worked his way up through the ranks and has the unique background and understanding in all of the function of a major metropolitan police department."
Snyder went on to say that Roach has had significant involvement in improvements, policies, and community policing efforts of the IMPD.
Marion County Prosecutor Terry sent his congratulations to Chief Roach:
"I am confident that his many years of experience both on the street and in administrative duties will serve him well as Chief. On behalf of the nearly 400 women and men in the Marion County Prosecutor's Office, we look forward to a continued partnership with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and Chief Roach in his new role."
Roach will take over from Deputy Chief Valerie Cunningham, who was named Interim Chiefon December 31st after Troy Riggs’ sudden departure from the department at the end of December.
Roach had praise for his predecessor, calling Riggs a "catalyst" to change in the community and department. He said he plans to continue changes Riggs led like the new beat system and data-driven policing.
"I hope to help put some meat and some nuts and bolts on a lot of the things he initiated," Roach said.
He also said he plans to look at the resources currently allocated to the East District and IMPD's homicide division. Roach will come into the chief's office with more than 90 unsolved homicide cases still open from 2016.
"Is 24 homicide detectives for the 149 homicides we had last year enough?" he said. "Probably not. Are there enough officers on middle shift in East District? Probably not."
Roach joined IMPD in April 1991. He was presented the Hulman Health Achievement Award by the Indiana Public Health Community for being instrumental in Indiana’s first law enforcement Naloxone program for opiate overdose victims, in 2015.
WATCH THE IMPD CHIEF ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW:
