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The Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (GIPC) released the findings of its Structural Reform Team, aimed at recommending critical police reforms. The team’s work is part of the Race and the Legal Process Working Group created in Summer 2020 and led by IU McKinney Dean Karen Bravo.

The report, “Police Reform: Equal Treatment of Black Americans,” recommends increased public access to misconduct investigations, improved police training and certification, and application of new approaches to community policing similar to those working in other cities.

“The analyses and recommendations offered by the Structural Reform Team are the result of thoughtful and collaborative research and discussion,” Dean Bravo said. “Their work will benefit the entire Indianapolis community, and has the potential to set examples for other municipalities. I am gratified that so many of our McKinney students, alums, and staff contributed their time, effort, and expertise.”

Several IU McKinney students took part in the reform team’s work.

“I wanted to take part in this project because we have to do better,” said 3L Tiffany Costley. “In the short term, I hope the project shows that the people in this city, in all diversities, want to see change and are ready to speak out and help implement results. In the long term, I hope the people with authority to make administrative changes within the IMPD take the project seriously based on the many hours of research and the caliber of people involved.”

“I joined because it's not every day as a student that you can research and offer recommendations on items that can potentially impact the community that you live in,” said 2L Jessica Venters. “It was great working with practicing attorneys and coming together to improve our community.”

Student Bar Association President Bre Robinson chose to get involved in the work to support GIPC’s efforts. “I think it is important for legal professionals to be engaged with their communities,” Robinson, a 3L, said. “Given the calls from the Indianapolis community for changes within policing, I was eager to be part of a project that worked to find solutions for the community’s requests.”

Marlee Jacocks wanted to work toward positive change. “I felt the need to do my part in supporting police reform efforts in Indianapolis in the wake of George Floyd’s death,” Jacocks, a 2L, said. “I came to law school to advocate for others and I believe as lawyers, we have a responsibility to use our skills to advocate not just for clients, but also for our communities.”

The working group is comprised of two teams: the Structural Reform Team, which is co-chaired by John Gaidoo, '07, Assistant General Counsel at Cummins, and Joseph Smith, partner at Faegre Drinker Biddle and Reath; and the Pro Bono Legal Services Team, chaired by Myra Selby, former Indiana Supreme Court Justice and partner at Ice Miller.

GIPC is composed of private sector corporate and community leaders and has engaged for over 50 years to improve Indianapolis. Founded in 1965, it is a private, nonprofit, 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.