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The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department will soon be led by Tanya Terry, a 27-year veteran of the force, Mayor Joe Hogsett’s office announced Wednesday.
Terry will make history as the first woman to receive a permanent appointment to the department’s top role. Her swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 2. Previously, she served for two years as deputy chief of operations and as a commander for the IMPD’s Southwest District, where she spearheaded a juvenile crime diversion program, according to a news release from the city. That program, which connects youth with Boys and Girls Club of Indianapolis and other support resources to avoid the juvenile justice system, was expanded citywide during her time as deputy chief.
Terry replaces former IMPD Chief Chris Bailey, who departed the role to become Hogsett’s chief deputy mayor early this month.
Terry will lead implementation of the department’s first ever five-year strategic plan, the city said in its announcement. She’ll also take on a sizable department that has had difficulty recruiting officers: IMPD had a budget of $358 million for 2026, but is shy nearly 300 officers from its target amount of more than 1,740.
Hogsett said in a news release that Terry’s leadership “has played a monumental role” in decreasing crime in Indianapolis, which he said is “down across the board” with an eight-year low in criminal homicides.
According to the mayor’s office, the city has reduced criminal homicides and non-fatal shootings by 44% over the last four years, and violence continues to trend downward thus far in 2026. That drop, however, comes after a record-high in 2021.
According to data provided by IMPD, the city recorded 165 homicides in 2025 with a nearly 51% clearance rate.
Rick Snyder, president of the Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police, said in a written statement that Terry is “highly respected across the board by the rank and file” of the department.
Additionally, Snyder wrote that Terry’s career has been built on “solid street police work, superb investigative skills, a focus on holding violent offenders accountable.”
Snyder also said Terry’s “care for the wellness and safety of our officers is well known.”
Terry’s appointment is pending the approval of the City-County Council. The proposal to confirm her appointment will be introduced at the Feb. 2 meeting, according to a council spokesperson, and will be heard in committee before being sent to the full council for approval, likely at its March 2 meeting.
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