Indianapolis police union president Rick Snyder says the city is in the middle of a violent-crime cooldown, pointing to early-year tallies he calls "remarkable reductions." By his count, there have been 171 people shot, 61 stabbed and 34 killed so far this year, a pace he says would put Indy at roughly 117 homicides for 2026. That would be a sharp slide from what he described as five-year averages topping 200 killings annually. Snyder credits a tougher approach to bail, a pay deal aimed at keeping officers on the job and the arrival of newly appointed IMPD Chief Tanya Terry.
In an April 16 appearance on The Hammer and Nigel Show, Snyder laid out the running totals and told the hosts, "We’re tracking at least 171 people shot, 61 stabbed, with 34 killed," calling the trend meaningful progress and very different from recent years. His interview and comments were reported by WIBC. Snyder argued that changes to the local bail matrix have "closed the revolving door" for some repeat offenders, which he says is cutting down on victimization.
Local reporting points to a wider pattern of declining violence. WRTV notes that Chief Tanya Terry was sworn in on Feb. 2 and that IMPD credits a roughly 44% reduction in criminal homicides and non-fatal shootings over the last four years. Axios has reported on the department's updated strategic plan and the leadership transition she is now leading.
What’s behind the drop
Snyder boils the shift down to three ingredients: tougher bail decisions for some repeat violent offenders, better officer morale after a significant contract, and hands-on leadership from Chief Terry. He told WIBC the recent contract "recognized years of service" and helped slow a brewing retention crisis inside IMPD. Local coverage at the time documented the union's ratification of a new four-year deal that included substantial pay bumps for officers; see reporting on the new four-year contract.
How the numbers add up
Snyder’s "on pace" estimate comes from extrapolating partial-year totals, which means the picture could shift as the calendar fills out. Local roundups show homicides spiking in 2021 and then easing in subsequent years, with one summary putting 2025 totals at roughly 133 killings, a trend that local outlets and police have linked to targeted enforcement and prevention efforts. In that context, the early-year downturn looks promising but not yet locked in, and the real test will be whether those monthly numbers stay on the same glide path.
What to watch next
City officials say they plan to stick with a mix of enforcement and prevention while watching the stats month to month. Chief Terry is overseeing implementation of IMPD's updated strategic plan, according to Axios, and community violence-interruption programs and the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force remain part of the broader response. Snyder’s running tally is likely to be one of the numbers policymakers watch as they consider future tweaks to court rules, police contracts and prevention spending.
