Building Trust, Inspiring Growth: IMPD CARES Expands Youth Engagement Programs
The IMPD CARES framework continues to grow, expanding its reach through innovative, interactive, and educational programs that bring officers and youth together in meaningful ways. Supported in part by the Central Indiana Police Foundation’s Behind the Line Fund, each initiative is designed to inspire learning, promote safety, and encourage open dialogue — creating positive connections that last far beyond the classroom or community event. Together, IMPD and CIPF are helping build bridges of trust, understanding, and shared purpose across Central Indiana.
“When officers and youth connect early, we don’t just build relationships — we build the foundation for a stronger, safer community.”
— Major Corey Mims, Community Engagement & Outreach Bureau
Juvenile Justice Jeopardy (JJJ)
Modeled after the popular game show format, Juvenile Justice Jeopardy turns learning into lively engagement. Guided by CEOB officers, students explore questions that challenge common misconceptions about the law, police, and the juvenile justice system. The goal? Conversation, not confrontation. Through interactive discussion, youth gain accurate, empowering knowledge about their rights, responsibilities, and community safety.
Play It Smart
Play It Smart emphasizes leadership, decision-making, and positive peer influence. Using real-world scenarios — such as traffic stops or chaotic public situations — officers and students explore why certain police responses occur and what decision-making looks like under pressure. The result is a listen-and-learn exchange that builds empathy, understanding, and mutual respect between youth and law enforcement.
School-Led Youth Development & Engagement (SLYDE)
Recognizing that no two schools are the same, SLYDE allows for customized, collaborative engagement. Schools and officers work together to develop activities that address specific community needs, whether that’s improving safety awareness, leadership development, or communication skills. SLYDE’s flexibility ensures that every school’s culture and students are heard, seen, and supported.
Eddie Eagle Gun Safe Program
Safety starts early. Through the Eddie Eagle Gun Safe Program, IMPD officers teach children four essential safety steps if they ever encounter a firearm:
Stop! Don’t Touch. Run Away. Tell a Grown-Up.
Delivered through fun, age-appropriate lessons, this national initiative helps prevent firearm accidents and encourages children to make smart, safe decisions in any environment.
Books & Badges
Books & Badges brings officers into classrooms — not to lecture, but to read, listen, and connect. By sharing stories, officers promote literacy, kindness, and leadership while showing students that police officers are approachable mentors who care about their growth and success, both inside and outside the classroom.
Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.)
G.R.E.A.T. is a nationally recognized, evidence-based program that empowers students to make positive choices. Through school-based lessons taught by trained IMPD officers, youth learn how to resist peer pressure, avoid gang involvement, resolve conflicts, and build communication skills that strengthen their futures. The focus is on prevention, not punishment — helping students grow into confident, capable community members.
Strengthening the Future, Together
Through IMPD CARES, the department continues to invest in the next generation — one conversation, classroom, and connection at a time. These programs are proof that when officers and youth learn from each other, they help build a community rooted in trust, understanding, and shared responsibility.