A new parking garage for the Fishers Police Department will break ground this spring, and officers will be moving into a new headquarters building before the end of 2018.  That’s what Chief Mitch Thompson told the Police Merit Commission at the Monday morning session, assuming construction schedules go as planned.  RQAW is handling the architecture work and Hagerman Group appears to have the inside track to construct the building, under a public-private partnership arrangement with the City of Fishers.

Thompson told commission members the department is authorized to have 111 sworn officers, but Fishers currently has 103.  He described the competitive market to attract applicants, which will create a difficult environment to bring on the additional 8 officers.

Thompson said there were 38 apprehensions-in-progress during 2016, the result of being more proactive in the department’s policing strategy.

Assistant Chief Ed Gebhart updated the commission on the CrimeWatch phone app, unveiled in May of 2016.  There are now over 4,000 users.  Once registered, a Fishers resident can snap a picture and report suspicious activity, with an officer in the area receiving the information real time.

The Merit Commission officers will remain the same in 2017, with Warren Henderson continuing as president.