Police Discuss Walmart Shooting

(posted Apr 29)

It's been almost three weeks since the police action shooting occurred at the Lafayette Road Walmart parking lot. Walmart sales are rebounding since the April 9 police-action shooting over a drug deal that resulted in a "justifiable homicide" of the suspect.

"Don't feel sorry for us, OK," Co-Manager Katsuo Williams said. He acknowledged the incident slowed customer traffic but it is rebounding. He does not expect the incident to hurt the store's overall sales for the year. The store is concentrating on the issues it can control. Walmart planted bushes and and trees at two elementary school to honor Earth Day. The store also raised 900 lbs of food to help local church food pantries. The decision not to sell ammunition was another controlled decision. Williams explained management did not want its ammunition to be connected criminally.

Williams comments were in response to an explanation of the incident to Lafayette Square Area Coalition members by Deputy Chief William Benjamin and Detectives Todd Lappin and Kevin Kelly. LSAC President Mary Clark told the members at the April 28 meeting to "start defending" the westside, because crime is not isolated to the Lafayette Square Area.

"We really have to go where the crime goes. We don't pick and choose where it is at," Benjamin said. It happens at Keystone at the Crossing, and at Castleton Square.

Benjamin gave a brief update of the drug cartel workings . The intensity of the applause indicated the members were satisfied with the explanation. Discussing the incident with the public is part of community policing.

Detective Todd Lappin said many undercover drug officers and a confidential informant were in the parking lot. "It was the suspects that changed the location and they do that commonly." The deal was to purchase 2.2 lbs of cocaine valuing at $32,000. The street retail was valued at $100,000.

Lappin explained the detective unit receives extensive narcotics and firearms training. A tactical action plan is created and rehearsed to account for "what if" contingencies. "They are not just a bunch of young cowboys out here going 'Ye ha ha', ... let's go get this drug dealer'."

Lappin said the police can't be limited where they can go because the drug activity will continue to manifest. Walmart provided refreshments and water to help the witnesses and police officers.

Benjamin said the drug deal was really a robbery that was diffused very quickly. "If we weren't there, we would have been criticized. 'Why weren't the police there? Why didn't they know?' " He said the deal would have been aborted if the public would have been in harms way. He assessed the take down as one of the best professional take downs "minus a SWAT team" in his 25 years of service.

Homicide Detective Kelly said "we the police acted responsibly."

He said that Indianapolis is number one in the nation for solving murders. Right now the city is ranked at 107% in 2009 because some 2008 cases were solved this year.

Benjamin said the public can expect two to three more police action shootings this summer because of drug activity from Laredo, Texas. The Laredo connection passes through Indianapolis, Kansas City and St. Louis. He said the drug cartel is training children from 11 to 16.

The department is not going to back down on enforcement efforts. "We are not playing here," Benjamin said.

A new TV crime drama series, "The Shift", features Lappin and Kelly. IMPD will also be featured in the soon to be aired "Crime 360." Benjamin quipped he needs to review it to make sure no cussing is in the video.

The Walmart incident, like all police shootings, is under a grand jury investigation.