OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee Meeting: Chief Terry Confirmation and Other Actions (February 12, 2026)

City-County Council — Thursday, February 12, 2026
BodyIndianapolis, Indiana
SessionCity-County Council
DateThursday, February 12, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:17:06

Transcript — Verbatim
0:22

Good afternoon, everyone.

0:23

Welcome to the publication.

0:31

We're on five three street with the Hannah at New Direction Church.

0:50

All right.

0:51

Thank you, Mr.

0:51

Chairman.

0:52

Michael Paul Hart representing District 20.

0:55

Hey, Mr.

0:56

Chairman's Josh Brothers in District 21.

0:59

Thank you, Ms.

1:01

Thank you.

1:03

Thank you.

1:10

Thank you, Mr.

1:11

Chair Brian Lowry, District 25.

1:14

Thank you, Mr.

1:14

Chair Frank is here, District.

1:17

And to our far right, Council.

1:33

Councillor Renee.

1:38

Council Renee Allen, if it became the party out.

1:42

Good evening, Keith Grace.

1:44

Thank you.

1:50

Thank you as well.

1:52

Thank you, Council BR Robinson, District 1, Chair of the Committee.

1:55

Before we continue with the legislative, we will get out for Grave.

1:59

We would also break.

2:18

And bringing this public committee be a heart of it.

2:25

That matters of the stage matters, public discussion matter.

2:31

They shouldn't just happen in downtown.

2:37

But Chief Terry, uh welcome.

2:40

And this historic appointment.

2:47

This is a significant moment for our city, and we recognize both the opportunity and responsibility that comes with this role.

2:57

Our community on the east side of Indianapolis is strong.

3:01

We've built great relationships with our East District leadership, an IMPD.

3:09

And as a result, we've seen crime decline.

3:13

That progress, it also included the collaboration from our neighborhood leaders, our faith community.

3:22

Thank you for hosting us here.

3:25

Our grassroots organizations and our residents that work together.

3:44

One that values community voice, invest in prevention, strengthens relationships, and addresses the root causes of crime alongside enforcement.

3:57

The district stands ready to partner with you.

4:05

Look for strong leadership, strong community collaboration.

4:16

We look forward to working with you, Chief Terry.

4:18

I'll turn it over to the chairman for the whole agenda tonight.

4:28

Thank you, uh Council Craig.

4:32

Pastor Solomon, please stand for a moment, please.

4:35

Thank you for hosting this evening.

4:38

All the ways we're in the community, not just on the east side, but throughout our city, the benchmark for wholesome things for the things you do in our city as well.

4:46

Thank you so much.

4:47

We do have a uh full agenda this evening, uh but before we start, you have to uh speak this evening, which is open hearings.

4:53

I actually got to sign up with the paper.

4:54

It's a paper of a friend here who will come up and sign the uh sign in sheet.

4:58

Want to speak this evening.

5:00

want to thank the lead pastor of the direction church uh pastor stalling uh please stand for one please thank you for hosting this evening all the break things with the community uh not just on the east side but throughout our city and the thank you for hosting thank you for the things you do in our city as well thank you so much we do have a uh full agenda this evening uh but before we start you have to speak this evening which is open hearing i actually got to sign up with the paper it's a paper up front here who will come up and sign the uh signing sheet want to speak this evening we appreciate you do that uh with consent I'd like to move proposal number sixty seven to the the agenda please thank you so much post number three seventy five uh twenty twenty five appoints here and shee in do not just have you and our detention center advisory board is able to come this evening we'd ask if we could one more time for the last time uh postpone this to the last the next meeting sound second so move so we'll move 375 to the next council meeting in uh in March up next proposal number nine 2025 reappoints Robert Hamley the Marion County public defender board mr hand mr hammerly requests to be withdrawn for this appointment so is council pearce do we have a vote on this withdrawal for proposal number nine so move so we need a motion to second please second motion we call to move this second all in favor of withdrawing proposal number nine significant by saying aye those opposed motion carries number nine will be withdrawn from the agenda also proposal number 16 amends the code to add the firefighters portion new section 230 252 310 entitled rental lead the sponsors reached out to us this evening counselor brown and asked we table this this item as well so we need a motion to and second to table proposal 16 seconds motion has been proper to second table proposal number 16 at the request of council brown all those by saying aye aye those opposed motion carries it to the table and now we have proposal number 40 2026 directs public safety control test committee we do accept the submission of the sheriff of the commissary fund report report who's gonna speak to that report please thank you so much here or here okay that's fine anyone wants to speak to the uh ask questions later please come forward and sign up as well record angela writer okay you want to speak to this report this commissioner report is I'm here to ask and try to get in for my answer question middle when it turns green should be good and I don't oversee the report uh right here as a representative of the sheriff's office to in order to in order to um I'm sorry so submitted but that commissary report for the last quarter of 425 if you have any questions I can take back to the sheriff's office I'll be happy to do so we have a copy of that report uh Ms.

7:45

Pierce we have a copy of that report it was submitted to us via email council have any questions on what they was sent but if you have any questions regarding the report the commissary fund's the time to ask the uh sheriff's office councils council maybe mr chair uh was this review uh or was this report sent to all of the counselors I may have missed it in it so I apologize but I mean you know the proposal does say to review and accept the report and honestly I haven't reviewed it yes that it had been sent a month ago okay and I assume that means it's sent to the clerk for the council yes okay thank you and we we could verify Ms.

8:38

Pierce it was distributed to everyone correct it was emailed today to all the council again so it was it was mailed first kind of month ago well I was saying today I emailed it to the council when I received it so is there's a chance they haven't had a chance to review it though I know the clerk had the email but I'm not sure she so counselor thing I notice you're concerned if you haven't seen it um I'm not quite sure when you all received it though so what's your pleasure I'm happy to have a discussion here with the committee if we want to consider postponing I don't know if there's a deadline the one has to be received or not but I would feel comfortable saying that I've reviewed something and obviously I have not if I just got the email today counselor has any of the counselors um recall receiving the report other than today I don't think council leader leader mounting yeah yes there uh reason we don't have a copy of in front of us tonight um normally the person precedes the copy ma'am what's your name again Angela Brigner Ms.

10:00

Normally the person presented brings the copy.

10:05

May I watch your name again?

10:08

Ms.

10:08

Rider, is there any issues with a postponement without delay any operations?

10:14

Council Bain, you want to have a motion?

10:17

So move.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety███████████████████████████████████████████43%
Personnel Matters██████████████████████████26%
Procedural███████████████15%
Community Engagement███████7%
Workforce Development████4%
Homelessness██2%
Youth Programs█1%
Technology and Innovation█1%
Cannabis Regulation█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee Meeting: Chief Terry Confirmation and Other Actions (February 12, 2026)

On February 12, 2026, the Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee of the Indianapolis City-County Council convened at New Direction Church on the east side. Council Chair Robinson opened the meeting highlighting the historic appointment of the first female chief of police and the importance of community collaboration. Pastor Solomon welcomed attendees. The committee considered a consent motion to add Proposal 67 to the agenda and then proceeded with the regular agenda.

Discussion Items

  • Proposal 375, 2025: Appointments to the Marion County Detention Center Advisory Board. The committee postponed this item to the next meeting in March at the request of the nominee.
  • Proposal 9, 2025: Reappointment of Robert Hamley to the Marion County Public Defender Board. Mr. Hamley requested withdrawal, and the committee voted to withdraw the proposal.
  • Proposal 16, 2026: An amendment to the code to add a section on rental lead for firefighters. At the request of sponsor Councilor Brown, the committee tabled this item.
  • Proposal 40, 2026: Direction for the committee to accept the sheriff's commissary fund report. Councilor Booth noted the report had only been emailed that day, and councilors had not reviewed it. The committee voted to postpone consideration to the next meeting.
  • Proposal 67, 2026: Confirmation hearing for Chief Tanya Terry. Chief Terry presented her background, crime statistics (murders down nearly 20% last year, down 45% since 2021; declines in other violent and property crimes), and the upcoming strategic plan. She addressed a recent incident where an officer used unacceptable language during a traffic stop involving juveniles with a firearm, stating the language is not reflective of department values. She confirmed IMPD does not enforce immigration laws and does not inquire about status. Councilors expressed strong support for Chief Terry, asking about civilian oversight, officer morale, staffing, recruitment, homelessness outreach, and community partnerships. Chief Terry outlined a two-pronged staffing strategy focusing on officer wellness and retention in the short term and improved recruitment in the long term. She reiterated her commitment to transparency and community engagement.

Public Comments & Testimony

Several community members spoke in strong support of Chief Terry's confirmation. Speakers included the president of the Public Safety Foundation, residents of the Southwest District and Hallville community, a business owner, and the president of the Crown Hill Neighborhood Association. They highlighted Chief Terry's professionalism, accessibility, integrity, community involvement, and her role as a historic first female chief. All urged the committee to confirm her appointment.

Key Outcomes

  • Proposal 9, 2025: Withdrawn unanimously.
  • Proposal 16, 2026: Tabled unanimously.
  • Proposal 40, 2026: Postponed to next meeting.
  • Proposal 67, 2026: The committee voted unanimously to send the appointment to the full council for confirmation.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the publication. We're on five three street with the Hannah at New Direction Church. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Michael Paul Hart representing District 20. Hey, Mr. Chairman's Josh Brothers in District 21. Thank you, Ms. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair Brian Lowry, District 25. Thank you, Mr. Chair Frank is here, District. And to our far right, Council. Councillor Renee. Council Renee Allen, if it became the party out. Good evening, Keith Grace. Thank you. Thank you as well. Thank you, Council BR Robinson, District 1, Chair of the Committee. Before we continue with the legislative, we will get out for Grave. We would also break. And bringing this public committee be a heart of it. That matters of the stage matters, public discussion matter. They shouldn't just happen in downtown. But Chief Terry, uh welcome. And this historic appointment. This is a significant moment for our city, and we recognize both the opportunity and responsibility that comes with this role. Our community on the east side of Indianapolis is strong. We've built great relationships with our East District leadership, an IMPD. And as a result, we've seen crime decline. That progress, it also included the collaboration from our neighborhood leaders, our faith community. Thank you for hosting us here. Our grassroots organizations and our residents that work together. One that values community voice, invest in prevention, strengthens relationships, and addresses the root causes of crime alongside enforcement. The district stands ready to partner with you. Look for strong leadership, strong community collaboration. We look forward to working with you, Chief Terry. I'll turn it over to the chairman for the whole agenda tonight. Thank you, uh Council Craig. Pastor Solomon, please stand for a moment, please. Thank you for hosting this evening. All the ways we're in the community, not just on the east side, but throughout our city, the benchmark for wholesome things for the things you do in our city as well. Thank you so much. We do have a uh full agenda this evening, uh but before we start, you have to uh speak this evening, which is open hearings. I actually got to sign up with the paper. It's a paper of a friend here who will come up and sign the uh sign in sheet.

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