INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department on Wednesday night had the first of seven public listening sessions.

The first session at the Brightwood Community Center gathered input on IMPD’s new five-year strategic plan. IMPD says it’s a part of a broader initiative to enhance public safety services and internal operations within the department.

To facilitate the listening sessions, the department has partnered with Taylor Advising to conduct the discussions without direct IMPD representation, ensuring an open dialogue.

Officer Drew Brown, a spokesman for IMPD, did not attend the session. He told News 8 before Wednesday’s session, “We want input from our community members we serve every day to help us provide a roadmap for what you want your police department to look like over the next five years.”

IMPD says the strategic plan was design to note the changing landscape of community safety, particularly since the previous strategic plan was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the heightened calls for police reform that followed the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Gregory Meriweather, a west-side resident who was one of the 10 people at Wednesday’s event, said he’s looking forward to witnessing change. “I would love to see more interaction in the community. I miss the days of what was considered to be policing: Police getting out of the car and having relationships and conversations, and getting to know the community. I think that by doing so it helps bridge the gap in communication. Still, also when we look at solvability rates, where crimes are being solved, once you have those communications, it will allow us to bring some things together.”

From building trust to enhancing communication and establishing clear rules and priorities, the president of Taylor Advising encouraged attendees to share their written input regarding their specific needs from the police department and their preferred methods of future communication. Marla Taylor said, “This is a unique opportunity for people who don’t typically get a seat at the table or don’t typically share their needs to come out and have their voices heard because they deserve to be heard.”

People unable to attend a listening session can participate in the online feedback survey.

Upcoming listening sessions on IMPD 5-year strategic plan

• 6-7:30 p.m. June 2: John H. Boner Community Center, 2236 E. 10th St.
• 6-7:30 p.m. June 5: Hawthorne Community Center, 2440 W. Ohio St.
• 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. June 9: Reading Room of Indianapolis Public Library’s Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St.
• 4:30-6 p.m. June 9: Reading Room of Indianapolis Public Library’s Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St.
• 6-7:30 p.m. June 11: Southeast Community Services, 901 Shelby St.
• 6-7:30 p.m. June 16: International District Community Center, 3450 Commercial Drive.