INDIANAPOLIS (April 20, 2021) – The Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (GIPC) offers this statement in response to the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial.

“Today’s guilty verdict is one step in our journey to examine the role of the criminal justice system, particularly policing, in the treatment of Black Americans,” said GIPC Board Chair Mary Chandler, who also leads community relations at Cummins Inc. “Today’s verdict represents accountability: for the Minneapolis community, for those who knew and loved Mr. Floyd and for our own ongoing commitment to listen, learn about the Black experience and promote change in the interest of a just future for our City.”

The evidence in the Floyd trial implicated recommendations in the GIPC Report, issued in March 2021, entitled “Police Reform: Equal Treatment of Black Americans.” Among key findings, the Report recommends increasing civilian oversight of the police, enhancing public access to misconduct investigations, improving police training and certification, and applying new approaches to community policing to mirror effective practices in other cities. “There has been positive discussion and a focus on change in the Indiana Legislature and our City around policing and our recommendations,” stated John Gaidoo, one of the authors of the Report. “We urge the Indianapolis community to join us in advocating for change as we remain resolute, focused and committed to police reform and the principles guiding our effort.”

“We must have real conversations about policing and police reforms. But we must also move beyond conversations and get to action that creates meaningful change,” added Tiffany Benjamin of the GIPC Executive Committee and Senior Director of Social Impact for Eli Lilly and Company. By working together, we can—and must—stop this seemingly endless cycle that causes so much pain and lessens our communities, city and nation.”

The policing reform team was chaired by Dean Karen Bravo of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law and led by John Gaidoo, Vice President – Deputy General Counsel of Cummins Inc., and Joe Smith, partner of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath.

The full Report can be found at: indygipc.org/initiatives/race-and-the-legal-process-working-group/structural-reform-team-recommendations.

About the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee
Founded in 1965, the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (GIPC) is a private, non-profit, and non-partisan organization that provides a forum in which leaders of the public and private sectors of Indianapolis can work as partners to study, discuss, and address issues of concern and areas of opportunity which affect the progress of the city. Driven by business and civic leaders, GIPC represents the bipartisan alliance that is a continuing example of public-private partnership in Indianapolis.

CONTACT:
Beth White
GIPC Executive Director
(317) 327-3820
beth.white@indygipc.org