Public Safety Committee Budget Hearing for MESA and Sheriff's Office - September 3, 2025

The Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee of the Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council met on September 3, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the Public Assembly Room of the City-County Building. The committee held budget hearings for the Metropolitan Emergency Services Agency (MESA) and the Marion County Sheriff's Office (MCSO). The Early Intervention Planning Council presentation was postponed. Extensive public testimony focused on the Sheriff's Office's cooperation with ICE.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jessica Saxton (civil rights advocate): Provided public notice regarding alleged constitutional violations, arguing that state statutes allowing charges by information instead of indictment violate the Fifth Amendment and constitute an emolument violation.
• Tanawa Downing (civil rights litigator): Stated she is preparing to argue a case to the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of over 700,000 incarcerated people, and claimed that warrantless arrests based on state statutes that conflict with the Constitution are unlawful. She presented 11,000 affidavits from Indiana victims.
• Martin DiAgostino (District 13 resident): Asked the committee to reject the Sheriff's proposed budget unless the Sheriff commits to not being an instrument of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement.
• Corbin Havener (District 9): Expressed that neighbors are not safe due to the Sheriff's cooperation with ICE, and urged redirecting funds from housing inmates to youth programs.
• Audrey Jones (reading statement for Rev. Dr. Clyde Posley): Stated the Baptist Convention's opposition to ICE's actions and called for an end to the contract with ICE.
• Stuart Morell (immigration and criminal defense attorney): Noted that most ICE detainees do not have a criminal record, lack due process, and asked the Sheriff to cancel the U.S. Marshal Service contract.
• Rev. Anetra Jones (Scott United Methodist Church): Accused the Sheriff of harming immigrant families and denying due process, citing biblical teachings.
• Rev. Aaron Hobbes (Broadway United Methodist Church): Allege that ICE detainees are held with lights on 24/7, lack language services, and do not receive legal support; called on the council to demand the Sheriff end ICE cooperation.
• Brian Moore (community organizer): Argued that deportation plans are about control, not safety, and that funding the Sheriff's budget with ICE collaboration will not make the community safer.
• Councillor Jesse Brown (District 13): Stated that constituents recognize a constitutional crisis and urged the committee to act, though she does not serve on this committee.
• Justice Vaughan (law student): Cited the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, asking whether the committee is choosing to be complicit in violating the Constitution.
• Karen Byrd (District 2 resident): Noted the cost to local law enforcement of ICE agreements, including loss of public trust, and urged termination of the contract because $75/day is insufficient.
• Rev. Chauncey Brown (District 15): Listed six deaths in the Marion County Adult Detention Center in 2024-2025 and called on the Sheriff to end ICE entanglement.
• Devontae Gilbert Bay (Moorish Science Temple): Criticized mental health programs in the jail, accused the Sheriff of tearing families apart and exacerbating crime.
• Amy Gusman (certified nurse midwife): Testified as a naturalized citizen and mother of a Latino son, expressing fear of racial profiling and calling for an end to the ICE contract.
• Anna Thomas (District 6 resident): Asked the council to break the contract with ICE, stating that rounding up neighbors does not improve safety.

Discussion Items

• MESA Budget Presentation: Chief Tom Sullis and CFO Frank Burelli presented the 2026 budget. They highlighted that MESA has four divisions (911 Center, Public Safety Communications, Emergency Management, Administration). In 2024, telecommunicators handled 1.6 million calls; in 2025, they saved 40 lives via CPR and helped deliver four children. Staffing is near budgeted levels, with active hiring to reach 10-second hold times. The 2026 budget reflects a 4% increase in Character 1, with funds allocated for a civilian director of PSC, system upgrades, and grant-dependent items. The CFO noted a decrease in Character 3 due to reallocation of radio system maintenance costs. Council members asked about 911 hold times (currently averaging 15 seconds), mental health call triaging (partnership with CLCR and 988), and technology upgrades (including AI for non-emergency calls). The Chief acknowledged a constituent's five-minute hold time and promised follow-up.
• Marion County Sheriff's Office Budget Presentation: Sheriff Kerry Forrestal and CFO Callan Carr presented the 2026 budget. Key points: staffing is the primary focus, with 55 additional detention deputy FTEs (total 881 FTEs in 2026, up from 826 budgeted in 2025). The 2026 introduced budget totals $150,729,503. Overtime is projected to decrease by $760,000. The Sheriff reported that the state owes $1.7 million for housing state prisoners since April 2024. Regarding ICE detainees, the Sheriff stated they are held under a U.S. Marshal Service contract, averaging 101 detainees per day, with reimbursement of $75/day. He cited a directive from the Governor and Attorney General requiring compliance. Council members questioned the legal basis, the lack of due process for detainees, and the refusal to meet with community groups. The Sheriff acknowledged he had turned down meeting requests. Multiple council members expressed disappointment and indicated they could not support the budget.
• Motion to Add Speaker on Truancy and Juvenile Crime: Councillor Hart moved to add Mr. James Taylor (director of student services at Moorhead Community Service Center) to a future agenda to discuss truancy and juvenile crime. The motion was seconded. Chair Robinson opposed, citing a precedent of denying such requests. After debate, a roll call vote on the motion failed (3 yes, 12 no).

Key Outcomes

• The Early Intervention Planning Council presentation was postponed to the next meeting.
• No votes were taken on the MESA or Sheriff's budgets; the hearings were informational.
• A motion to invite a community speaker on truancy was rejected.
• The committee heard extensive public testimony opposing the Sheriff's cooperation with ICE; several council members indicated they would vote against the Sheriff's budget due to his stance on ICE and refusal to meet with the community.
• Council members requested additional data from MESA on 911 hold times, mental health call routing, and CLCR referrals.
• Council members asked the Sheriff to seek a legal opinion from the Office of Corporation Counsel regarding the ICE contract and to improve conditions for detainees if the contract continues.