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Candidates debate anti-gang strategy
10/26/2006
By Jon Murray
The Indianapolis Star
Melina Kennedy said Prosecutor Carl Brizzi had failed to thwart gangs during his first term during a news conference this afternoon with Brizzi's former chief gang prosecutor.
Mark King, who was chief gang prosecutor under Brizzi until 2004, praised Kennedy's plan to target gang leaders and gather intelligence by offering amnesty to low-level and fringe members. The Democrat is challenging Brizzi's reelection, and Brizzi has heavily criticized her gang amnesty plank in debates and in a recent TV ad.
Under Brizzi, Kennedy said, "there has not been a tough strategy aimed at taking down the gang leaders and core gang members."
Brizzi said his policies have been effective and "could not be any more aggressive." One deputy prosecutor oversees gang cases, while eight community prosecutors also have a hand in gang prosecution.
King resigned from the office in March 2004 after he was criticized by superiors for trying to arrange protection for a witness in a murder trial without their permission. "We agreed to part ways," Brizzi said. "I respect Mr. King."
During today's news conference and in a news release, Kennedy cited his background as an FBI agent. Her campaign later said it had made a mistake, clarifying that King went through training at the FBI Academy but never became an agent.
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