'We want those numbers to go down': New IMPD police chief is a longtime crime investigator

A longtime criminal investigator has been tapped as the new Indianapolis police chief at a time when the city is struggling with gun violence.

Randal Taylor, who most recently served as second-in-command and remains the highest-ranking black officer at Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, replaces Bryan Roach, who is retiring this week after three years at the helm.

"I've always loved being a police officer and I'm confident that my love for this department and for this profession will continue as I serve in this capacity," Taylor said during prepared remarks at a press conference Tuesday morning. "I know my love for this community will grow as well as I attempt to build further bridges of trust, to make our city safer and support our officers who protect and serve every day."

Taylor, 54, has worked in law enforcement for more than 30 years, including 26 years in Indianapolis. He joined the Marion County Sheriff's Department in 1993 and continued with IMPD after the merger between the sheriff's and Indianapolis Police departments in 2007.

He has spent much of his career in investigative positions, with experience investigating narcotics, internal affairs, child abuse and domestic and sex violence.

Prior to his time at the sheriff's department, Taylor worked as a police officer in Champaign, Illinois. He and his wife, WTHR investigative reporter Sandra Chapman, moved from Champaign with their oldest child to pursue professional opportunities in Indianapolis.

The couple have three children: Austin, 27; Quentin, 24; and Nia, 18.

It’s “a great blessing,” Chapman said, to see her husband step into the role: “Randy really does have a heart for the community.”

Mayor Joe Hogsett, surrounded by members of city and IMPD leadership, announced his selection of Taylor during the Tuesday news conference before officially swearing in Taylor.

"Chief Taylor's body of work speaks for itself. He has worked in public safety in Indianapolis for decades, seeing both our public safety agencies and our city change and evolve," Hogsett said. "Chief Taylor knows where we have been. Most importantly, he knows where we are going."

Continuing what began under Roach

Taylor will inherit a department that found stable footing over the last three years under Roach and Hogsett.

Budgets have expanded, allowing IMPD to give pay raises and add officers to its ranks as the department moves to a model of beat policing. IMPD also has invested in new technology providing computer-aided dispatch, data analysis and record-keeping.

The use of lethal force has declined, and IMPD has launched units and training to help officers who encounter people enduring mental health crises.

Taylor's appointment represents a continuation of what began under Roach. Not only did Taylor lead on many of the initiatives announced under Roach, but Taylor said he will retain the existing command staff.

That became clear in his first act as chief. He appointed Chris Bailey, who served on Roach's command staff, as Taylor's assistant chief. Bailey also previously worked as Taylor's second-in-command when they both led the investigative division.

Bailey, 44, most recently served as Roach's executive officer. His 20-year career includes time working as a drugs and gangs detective. His experience on the command staff includes stints as commander in IMPD's north district as well as homeland security.

In 2017, Bailey took over as deputy chief of the investigations division, where he helped launch the department's gun crime intelligence center — an initiative to more closely partner with federal law enforcement to generate more leads and more arrests of people who use guns illegally.

That effort is meant to avoid the perils of mass sweeps and arrests across a neighborhood, and the damage inflicted on IMPD's credibility, by instead targeting specific people believed to have been involved in multiple shootings.

Bailey briefly left the department this past summer to become police chief in Asheville, North Carolina. He left that job in September, after only two months, citing long-distance stress on his family, who remained in Indianapolis.

Rumors surrounding his departure suggested he may have left because of a 15-year-old criminal case. According to IndyStar reports from July 2004, Bailey was arrested after he allegedly punched, showed a gun to and threatened his estranged wife's male friend. Bailey pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, which was later expunged.

Bailey, who has been open about that past case, said he informed Asheville officials long before he was hired there. The case had no bearing, Bailey said in September, on his decision to leave Asheville.

Bailey was reinstated to his merit rank of captain upon his return to Indianapolis and in the months since has served in Roach's office. Taylor holds a merit rank of lieutenant, according to IMPD personnel records.

Ties in the community

Beyond his law enforcement credentials, Taylor is known for his ties in the community. He's led the department's community affairs branch, and has worked to develop relationships with families struggling with the loss of loved ones to homicides.

He will be taking over as homicides and violence, fueled by gun use and drug trafficking, continue to haunt Indianapolis. More than 750 people have died in criminal homicides over the last five years, and hundreds more have been afflicted by nonfatal injuries.

While some forms of crime and violence have declined in recent years, gun violence remains pervasive.

"We want those numbers to go down, especially those murder numbers and those non-fatal shooting numbers," Taylor said. "I will do all that I can to make sure we get there."

It's a struggle that's personal to Taylor. He lost his father-in-law to a homicide in 1998 in Fort Wayne.

The shock and pain has informed how Taylor tries to provide hope for people in Indianapolis who are hurting over loss.

Taylor has spoken at neighborhood events about how violence disproportionately hits African Americans, appealing to the community to join investigators to help solve crimes. He also attends funerals and visitations for homicide victims.

Hogsett pointed to Taylor's experience in neighborhoods as part of the reason why he was named chief.

"He has been there with residents, sharing his personal faith and his human empathy in times of joy, in times of crisis, and in times of mourning for loved ones taken by violence," Hogsett said.

And, Hogsett said, Taylor agrees that it is important for the department to be representative of the community.

In a statement, Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police President Rick Snyder also spoke about the violence affecting Indianapolis.

"We congratulate Chief Taylor, whose professional and life experiences combined with his rise through the ranks of the department will serve our city well," Snyder said. "We look forward to working alongside Chief Taylor to address the safety concerns of our community while ensuring our rank-and-file officers have the resources, direction and support they critically need."

Questions on the future

In addition to the nagging problem of violence in Indianapolis, Taylor also will inherit three half-accomplished promises made by Hogsett and Roach after a controversial police shooting in 2017.

IMPD's use-of-force policy has not changed. No one has thoroughly examined the process for registering complaints against police officers. And no civilians have been empowered to review all officers' uses of force or serve on a formal review board.

While Roach said he made progress in those areas, he also said it would be up to his successor to carry through on the promises.

Taylor will be the one taking up the mantle.

Contact IndyStar reporter Ryan Martin at 317-444-6294 or ryan.martin@indystar.com. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter: @ryanmartin.

Call IndyStar reporter Holly Hays at 317-444-6156. Follow her on Twitter: @hollyvhays.