Before the new Indianapolis police chief can be on the job long enough to receive her own confirmation hearing, Tanya Terry faces a major controversy: On February 6, a video of an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer threatening to kill a 17-year-old driver during a traffic stop went viral.
“I’m going to fucking kill you,” one officer told the teen as he pulled him out of the car. Police eventually recovered a handgun and some marijuana from a passenger, but the driver who was threatened was not carrying contraband.
Although the department released a statement in response to the video the evening of Feb. 6, Terry spoke in person for the first time on Feb. 11 before the City-County Council’s Public Safety Committee.
“Let me be clear: the words used in this incident are unacceptable,” Terry told the 13-member panel. “…Context is important, but it does not take away the impact of those words.”
IMPD’s first female leader, Tanya Terry, was sworn in as the new chief on February 2. The Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee recommended a vote to confirm her appointment on Feb. 11, and the decision will likely be formally announced at the full committee meeting on March 2 without further discussion.
The Public Safety Committee, which rotates meetings in the community, met Feb. 11 at the former New Directions Church, about a 15-minute drive from the traffic stop where the video was taken.
Terry said the video did not capture the entire interaction, including the “de-escalation efforts” that occurred before and after filming began.
The Indy star’s request for body-worn camera footage remains pending.
“Two things may be true at the same time. The narrative that was used is unacceptable and it is unacceptable for children to have guns,” Terry said. “Holding police officers accountable does not mean that we ignore the real dangers that illegal firearms pose to our communities.”
An internal investigation is ongoing and the identity of the officer who made the threat has not been released.
Lee Merritt, a prominent civil rights attorney who represents Trayvon Taylor, is investigating the case.
Terry gives her thoughts on immigration and her vision
The rest of Terry’s conversation with council members touched on her community engagement plans as department leader, recruiting vision and officer morale. She added that IMPD’s new strategic plan will be released next week.
Before concluding, Terry said she wanted to discuss another issue that has roiled communities’ relationships with law enforcement across the country.
The department’s position on immigration enforcement has not changed, and IMPD does not have any agreements with federal agencies to conduct immigration operations.
“Our mission is local public safety, and that means protecting everyone in our city,” Terry said.
As the floor opened for public comment, a handful of audience members stood to express their unwavering support for the new president.
“As we heard today, when someone raises a concern about police conduct or a traffic stop, she addresses it directly. This shows accountability and a commitment to professional standards that our city needs,” said business owner Aaron Williams of Howell.
The council voted unanimously to recommend Terry. A confirmation hearing will be held March 2 at the full City-County Council meeting.
Ryan Murphy is IndyStar’s community reporter. You can contact her at rhmurphy@indystar.com.
This article originally appeared in The Indianapolis Star: New Police Chief Tanya Terry addresses viral traffic stop video
