Recently, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department cited dozens of
patrons and arrested organizers of an illegal gambling house on the city's
Northeastside. While police should be commended for monitoring this
situation and ultimately stepping in, it is disturbing that known illegal
gambling elsewhere in Marion County is being ignored. The Star reported on,
and even gave the address for, an illegal gambling ring on the Westside last
month. What is truly troubling in this case is that local officials appear
to not be concerned with the issue. Deputy Mayor Steve Campbell stated:
"It's understandable that the police would spend more time on violent crime
and drugs than on gambling." City-County Council President Monroe Gray
refused comment, but was listed in a 2003 police report for being outside a
local illegal gambling house. During a raid at a gambling house on Feb. 6,
state Sen. Glenn Howard arrived at the scene and told police that "the
facility should be left alone even if it is illegal because it doesn't hurt
anybody." Apparently, Howard doesn't realize that illegal drugs, thefts and
other crimes tend to follow illegal gambling. It is time for Mayor Bart
Peterson and his political associates to take crime seriously. Selective
reading of crime statutes does nothing to stem the tide of increasing crime.
Indianapolis must demand leadership that will equally apply the law and
protect its citizens.