Indianapolis' mayor-elect names new police chief

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indianapolis' mayor-elect has named the city's former public safety director to be police chief amid rising violent crime he says represents a "public safety crisis."

Democrat Joe Hogsett on Tuesday tapped Troy Riggs to become police chief on Jan. 1, when Hogsett is sworn in as mayor.

Riggs' return to city government comes less than six months after he left the administration of current Republican Mayor Greg Ballard for a university research post. He'll replace current police chief Rick Hite.

The Indianapolis Star reports (http://indy.st/1SNUDhg ) the move by Hogsett comes after Indianapolis' criminal homicide count recently passed 135, the deadliest since 2006.

Hogsett said when he announced Riggs' appointment as police chief that "Indianapolis is enduring a public safety crisis." He says Riggs will report directly to him.

___

Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com