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| Volume 18: April 12, 2010 |
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Marion County Crime Reports: Checking Walgreens |
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 For the past several weeks, Project RAD has worked with Drug Free Marion County to connect the dots on important matters that policy makers need to review.
The issues of concern for neighborhoods relate to crime and density of alcohol permits within certain townships in Marion County.
In several instances, not only are the exact locations sources of crime (without selling alcohol), they are also in areas that are often already surrounded by serious crime problems.
One neighborhood made such a loud noise that Walgreens officials decided to pull one permit request. Other neighborhoods are following suit and will be objecting at an upcoming hearing.
Our review of public records was prompted by the flood of permits sought by Walgreens to sell alcohol at more than 180 locations in the state.
A hearing in Indianapolis has been extended twice already at the request of Walgreens.
The latest request comes from the Bose McKinney law firm seeking a continuance for nine locations until June 7 due to issues related to zoning matters. If this continuance is approved, Walgreens will have scrambled its hearing dates over three different times from April through June, thus creating more confusion for neighborhood groups.
Follow the link here to read the letter and full list of the nine locations.
If you're interested in those crime reports in your township, visit this link and you can download those analyses. All reports were assembled by public records kept and maintained by the city and state.
Sources of the records are also noted so you can check online if you have time to do your own research.
The emails and phone numbers of your City-County Council contacts are also provided. | |
Legislative District 34 Town Hall Meetings Set | |
Do you want your voice heard in the continuing policy discussion about alcohol regulations in Indiana? As special interest money continues to flood the state for those corporate interests who want NO controls for alcohol sales, make sure that real people with real stories are heard.
If you live in Marion County and want to speak up, here is the next series of Town Hall meetings for District 34 in Center, Lawrence and Washington Townships.
Walgreens is seeking 12 new alcohol permits in these areas and neighborhoods, most of which are scheduled for hearings on April 19. But some are scheduled for June 7. (Watch for more updates on Project RAD.) Sen. Jean Breaux has scheduled the following Town Hall meetings and she's specifically asked for input on the matter:
Center Township Town Hall
 with State Representative Bill Crawford
(District 98)
Tuesday, April 13th
6:00 p.m.
Julia Carson Center
300 East Fall Creek Parkway
Indianapolis, IN 46205
Lawrence Township Town Hall
with State Representative John Bartlett
(District 95)
Thursday, April 22nd
6:00 p.m.
CAFE- Community Action of the Far Eastside
8902 E 38th St.
Indianapolis, IN 46226
Washington Township Town Hall
with State Representative Gregory W. Porter
(District 96)
Tuesday, April 27th
6:00 p.m.
Washington Township Government Center
5302 N. Keystone Avenue, Suite E
Indianapolis, IN 46220 |
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A Public Records Primer: Crime Data | |
When neighborhoods look and ask for crime data, they often need to make a public records request. Many groups are already plugged into connections in a law enforcement agency through Crime Watch programs and other groups. But if you're not that plugged in, just how do you go about making this request?
Project RAD is sending you these tips as many neighborhood groups and elected officials consider crime data when reviewing businesses that have applied for liquor permits in their areas.
We hope you find this information helpful.
- Identify what department covers the area you're checking. If you're in an incorporated area, chances are you are covered by a city police department. If not and you're looking at a more rural area that is unincorporated, you're probably going to be seeking information from a sheriff's department. You may also be covered by a small incorporated town or small police department as well-such as a town marshal. But most will be covered by a police department or sheriff's department.
- Ask if any records are available online. In Indianapolis, for example, you can search a free database based on specific addresses. There are also many for-fee databases for public records, but these can be pricey and sometimes unreliable. Check as much as possible before signing up for these services.
- If online isn't an option, you will need to make a call to your local law enforcement agency and ask how you might go about getting that information and making a records request. Be friendly. If you don't find the right person on the first call, keep calling. Generally, this is a task assigned to a Public Information Officer or PIO. But it might also be a staff secretary or administrative assistant.
- Police agencies can be wary of requestors, but asking for data is becoming more commonplace-with everyone from home buyers seeking crime stats before they purchase a home to businesses asking before they relocate to a new area. So, in general, public agencies should be used to getting requests from the public.
- Be as specific as possible. Don't say: "I want a copy of every arrest made in the last year in my neighborhood of Mapleton Woods." Do say: "I'd like a copy of every crime reported from the address of 2255 Mapleton Woods Drive from Jan. 1, 2010 to March 1, 2010."
- Note that some agencies are better equipped to answer your questions than others. The smaller the force, the fewer the personnel who may be assigned to assisting with public records requests. Be patient. And don't file a day before you need records. Seeking public records is sometimes a negotiation and you need to be patient in the task.
- If you believe you've been denied records unfairly, file a complaint or a request for an informal opinion on the law with Indiana's Public Access Counselor. This is very simple to do on email or by phone - and the office generally gets back to you within a week to 10 days. This may be all that you need to back up your request with a government employee.
- Use the sample letter here and simply fill in the blanks for the information you are seeking. If you need it in time for a hearing, neighborhood meeting or to do some research, try to do it at least 30 days before your deadline. While we believe most public officials are sensitive about the law, not all can keep up with its demands for disclosure.
- Be prepared to pay for copies. If you don't have a budget to buy records, you can also ask to "inspect" copies at a local agency office. You can take your own notes, but you won't have any official records. Some people are allowed to bring in their own portable printers and make their own copies to reduce costs.
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Walgreens Robberies Target Southern Indiana |
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A rash of robberies in Southern Indiana targeting Walgreens pharmacies has hit the media spotlight. WHAS-TV in Louisville has been following the case and notes that police and pharmacist are on "high alert."
The robbers are targeting pharmacies for Oxycontin. Just one pill has a current street value of $65 to $85 a tablet. Investigators say one man stole at least four bottles of the drug, worth about $30,000. As the price continues to go up, so does concern for people who work at pharmacies.
The Muncie newspaper recently ran a series about Oxycontin thefts at Walgreens and CVS and the related increase in violence in that community.
To read the full article, click here. |
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Take our Poll: Walgreens and Booze |
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 If you haven't visited the Save My Sunday blog, please do and take our poll about Walgreens. Follow a link to the blog here and scroll down to take our poll on the right side of the page.
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