‘To serve and protect’ | |
 Jerry Barker, Indianapolis Chief of Police |
When Jerry Barker talks with kids as Indianapolis’ new chief of police, he tells them they can be anything when they grow up—provided they get an education. He should know. His own 1978 degree in criminal justice from IUPUI’s School of Public and Environm
ental Affairs has served him well during 31 years on the police force. It even helped him land a job similar to that of his childhood hero—The Lone Ranger.
Previously deputy chief of Indianapolis Police Department’s West District, Barker was appointed chief last February by Mayor Bart Peterson. Barker is known as a local pioneer of neighborhood policing, which emphasizes the development of strong, positive t ies between police officers and the communities they share. As chief of the city’s force of 1,053 sworn officers in five stations with a budget of about $82 million, Barker plans to take his community policing concepts city-wide. The city could put hundre ds more police officers on the streets, but without a “buy-in” from the community, the effort would be ineffective in terms of public safety, Barker said. Other goals include the recruitment of more minorities. “Our police department should reflect the community we serve,” Barker said. “I don’t think we adequately reflect that, though we’re close.” Barker joined the force after a stint with the army in Vietnam, where he was wounded in battle and decorated with a Purple Heart. Dissatisfied with returning to his former job on a factory assembly line, Barker wanted a career that would offer him challen ge, reward, some control over his work day. “And a little element of excitement,” said Barker. “I thought the police department offered me all those opportunities.” Barker’s rise through the ranks was built on leadership. He commanded both the Special Operations and Response/SWAT team and the auto theft branch. He was executive officer of the juvenile branch and was instrumental in starting a unit to combat child abu se. He also is a hostage negotiator and graduate of the FBI National Academy. College life at IUPUI broadened his horizons, giving Barker a perspective that has allowed him to work with and appreciate social workers and others who may have a less “rough-and-tough” approach to their work. “I got an excellent education,” he said, emphasizing the value of personal interaction with professors and small classes. In fact, he believes so strongly in the quality of the education he got that he laid down the household law for his own three childre n: each must spend at least the first year of college at IUPUI. The Lone Ranger has spoken. |
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Publication date: September 29, 2000
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