Officers increase patrols to target criminals 8.29.11

WTHR

Investigators say they're close to making an arrest in what they call a personal attack on police.

IMPD Officer Dustin Carmack is home recovering after being shot Friday while sitting in his patrol car during an arrest. The officer declined to talk about the shooting Monday, but IMPD Chief Paul Ciesielski didn't hesitate, saying police believe arrests in the case are coming.

A police saturation patrol on the east side of Indianapolis stopped suddenly Friday night after Officer Carmack was shot. Officers raced to the west side after the patrolman was wounded in the drive-by shooting.

On Monday, investigators say that they're close to making and arrest after Ciesielski called it an "unprovoked attack" and declared that finding the shooter is a priority.

"That is a personal attack on the police. There's no doubt that those young men were shooting at the police and I'm here to tell you, you can't do that," the chief said.

Witnesses told investigators that shots were fired by a passenger in a car that pulled out of an alley as the officer was finishing a report after breaking up a fight in a west side liquor store parking lot. With other officers standing nearby, a shot was fired into the passenger side of Carmack's squad car, striking him in the hip. The officer was released from the hospital on Sunday and is expected to make a full recovery.

The shooting surprised people living the area, who say that police have become a big presence.

"I think that they've let the drug problem go on too long. Drugs support gangs. It's all gang stuff and drugs. Every bit of it," said homeowner Joe McMahon.

"They've cracked down on people that sell drugs in this neighborhood and as long as the cops keep doing their job, I'll give the cops 100 percent credit. I'll back em' up," said homeowner Rebecca Deems.

With Officer Carmack now recuperating at home, police say they are closing in on the people responsible for targeting the officer in the unprovoked attack.

"I'm very confident that we'll identify and charge the shooter," Ciesielski said.

He said his department is putting a renewed focus on areas of increased criminal activity.

"We are specifically targeting hotspots and the people in those hotspots committing crime and maybe this is a sign that we're putting some extra pressure on them," Ciesielski said.
But what about possible retaliation because of the effort? "Well, I'd be careful, because I have 1,600-plus officers," the chief said.
http://www.wthr.com/story/15354183/officers-increase-patrols-target-criminals