INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Troy Riggs said Sunday their department is investigating one threat of violence made against law enforcement officers in central Indiana.
Chief Riggs revealed the investigation during a news conference called to discuss the recent violence against officers across the country after five officers were killed in Dallas two weeks ago and three more killed in Baton Rouge Sunday.
Chief Riggs said the threat came from one individual through social media within the last week, but he declined to go into further detail because it is an ongoing investigation.
He called for everyone in central Indiana to be diligent in reporting any potential threats of violence toward police officers to IMPD immediately, noting that's how they were alerted to the one individual they're currently looking into.
Riggs was gracious for the outpouring of support for officers in Indiana in the past couple of weeks, citing a few examples of delivered food to police departments or people picking up the tabs of officers eating at restaurants.
IMPD's chief said they are doing everything they can to make sure their officers and their officers' families stay safe, citing changes in policing based off of big events in the city and tactics they learned about from Dallas and others around the country.
Chief Riggs said he has directed their intelligence unit to be the central repository for all reports of potential threats against officers, and to investigate each one they receive. Even if criminal charges can't be brought against the individual, Riggs said IMPD will still seek out that person to talk with them about their comments and/or frustrations.
He finished the Sunday news conference by saying he was proud of his department for getting up and going to work, despite the recent violence.
.@IMPD_Chief Even with all these terrible things we're talking about, our officers are still putting on uniforms and going to work @rtv6
— #IndyThisWeek (@IndyThisWeek) July 17, 2016
NEW: Message just sent from @IMPD_Chief to police dept employees after Baton Rouge shooting, 3 officers dead @rtv6 pic.twitter.com/Zw5byWGEP8
— #IndyThisWeek (@IndyThisWeek) July 17, 2016
Praying their father and all police officers return home safely. #thinblueline pic.twitter.com/aH4AY3CQRe
— IMPD (@IMPD_News) July 17, 2016
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