PARTNERING WITH A ROLLER SKATING RINK ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE THAT’S BEEN THE SCENE OF GUN VIOLENCE AS CBS FOUR’S MAX LEWIS REPORTS BUSINESS OWNERS REACHED OUT TO POLICE TO STOP CRIME IN THEIR COMMUNITY IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR A FIVE
YEAR-OLD WAS SHOT AT THE SKATE ROLLER RINK ON THE CITY’S NORTHWEST SIDE COUPLE YEARS BEFORE THAT A NINETEEN YEAR-OLD WAS GUNNED DOWN IN THE RINK’S PARKING LOT THOSE INCIDENTS LED TO THE RINK RETHINKING ITS PURPOSE WE JUST WANTED TO BRIDGE THE GAP
BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO THE POLICE STATION THE RINK DECIDED IT WANTED TO BE PART OF THE PUSH TO CURB THE ESCALATING VIOLENCE IN INDIANAPOLIS THEY REACHED OUT TO IMPD TO SEE HOW THEY COULD HELP IN THE ANSWER WAS
PROVIDING A PLACE FOR KIDS TO GO WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO DO WHEN THEY HAVE A LOT OF TAMMANY HANDS THEY TEND TO GET INTO TRAVEL THE RINK’S REGIONAL MANAGER ALEXANDRIA WALLACE GAVE IMPD OFFICERS THREE HUNDRED GOLDEN
TICKETS TO HAND OUT TO KIDS AND TEENS IN THE COMMUNITY THE TICKET GETS THEM INTO THE RING FOR FREE WITH THE HOPE OF KEEPING THEM BUSY WE LIKE TO SEE THE CHILDREN HAVE SOMETHING TO DO TO OCCUPY THEIR TIME SO THAT THEY CAN DO
SOMETHING FUN AND POSITIVE INSTEAD OF TURN TO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY RYAN DEAKIN IS AN IMPD COMMUNITY RESOURCE OFFICER AND SAYS THIS IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH KIDS WE FEEL THAT WOULD HELP BUILD A BETTER ATMOSPHERE AND IT WOULD SHOW THAT USE THAT
HEY YOU CAN TRUST THE POLICE WE WANT TO BUILD ON THAT THIS PARTNERSHIP WAS IN PART BROKERED BY THE ORGANIZERS BEHIND CEASE-FIRE INDI WHO ARE GOING TO HOLD WEEKLY SKATE NIGHTS HERE NEXT MONTH TO GIVE KIDS AND TEENS A PLACE TO HANG
OUT AND STAY OUT OF TROUBLE BUILDING THESE RELATIONSHIPS AGAIN THEY’LL BE MORE RECEPTIVE TO LET US KNOW THAT WHAT IT IS THAT THEIR NEEDS WILL BE ABLE TO TRY TO POINT THEM INTO THE RIGHT DIRECTION ON THE CITY’S NORTHWEST SIDE
MAX LEWIS CBS FOUR NEWS SKATE NIGHTS WILL BE HELD EVERY MONDAY NIGHT IN DECEMBER ITS KATE LAND
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