MAYOR BALLARD NAMES NEW PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR

Mayor Greg Ballard today announced the appointment of Dr. Frank Straub as Public Safety Director for the City of Indianapolis.

"Dr. Straub is a proven, results-oriented crime fighter, and he has the experience and determination to lead our Public Safety Department in Indianapolis," said Mayor Ballard. "He will work constructively with our public safety professionals, our community, and our neighborhoods to make Indianapolis the most livable big city in America."

Straub comes to Indianapolis from White Plains, New York where he served as Police Commissioner. In the seven years he served as commissioner, he and his force effected a 40 percent drop in serious crimes by employing community policing techniques and the effective analysis trends and crime data.

With over 25 years of experience in criminal justice, Straub earned his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the City University of New York and his professional experience includes time spent in the Naval Investigative Service and the Diplomatic Security branch of the State Department. He served as Executive Deputy Inspector General for the State of New York and the U.S. Department of Justice as a special agent.

Prior to serving as Commissioner in White Plains, Straub was Deputy Commissioner of Training for the New York Police Department, serving before and after the attacks on September 11, 2001.

"I'm very excited to be a part of the team here in Indianapolis," said Straub. "Mayor Ballard's record of emphasizing public safety and the dedication of his entire team definitely influenced my decision. We have a great responsibility to keep our community safe and I'm eager to get started."

Straub was recommended by the city's Public Safety Director Search Committee, led by former Public Safety Director Scott Newman.

"Frank is the right choice to lead our public safety department into the future," said Newman. "He has an impressive track record in criminal justice and we certainly look forward to his leadership as we work to keep our neighborhoods safe and criminals off our streets."