Indianapolis is experiencing an unprecedented shortage of sworn officers. At a budget meeting Wednesday, Sept. 11, Chief Chris Bailey said the force only has about 1,460 officers. It's budgeted for more than 1,700, and Bailey admitted even if they were fully staffed, it wouldn't be enough. "I can tell you that even at 1,743, it's still not enough to do all the things we want to do, but we have to get to that point. I think that other cities, other major cities, have taken money from their police department, and they are paying that price now,” Bailey said. But even 1,743 has proven to be an impossible goal. “Currently we have the lowest number of sworn officers we have had in the history of IMPD,” Bailey said. “Right now, we have not slashed any of our services or told community members that we won’t be showing up on their particular run, but we are very close to that.” MORE: https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/impd-officer-shortage-staffing-budget-recruitment-resignation-resigning-retirement-chief-chris-baily-catherine-cummins-cops-police-indianapolis/531-bd8d0f95-5472-44e7-9af3-f0c636c1f622