During his 26 years with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Officer Timothy “Tim” Day was a tough “old school” cop who helped remove some of the city’s most dangerous people from the streets.
His colleagues, however, also remember a thoughtful man who provided much of the motivation they needed to deal with the unpleasant tasks that come with working in IMPD’s Violent Crimes Unit (VCU), dedicated to preventing and solving violent crimes.
“Tim was like a calming force in the office,” said Sgt. Jerry Buckner, who leads the unit. “He was an important piece of our unit that we’re going to miss dearly. A lot of guys can’t go in these neighborhoods and get done what Tim got done.”
Day, 52, passed away after suffering a heart attack at an eastside church last week.
As IMPD and the community prepare to lay him to rest this weekend, Day’s contributions to making Indianapolis safer are being remembered.
“The stuff he did, you can’t teach in the police academy,” said Buckner.
As a detective with the VCU, Day helped capture hardened suspects involved in some of the city’s most devastating crimes. Among them were the 2008 Hovey Street murders of two mothers and their young children, as well as the 2010 mass shooting that killed two people and wounded six others during a birthday party at a home near 32nd and Elmira Streets.
“If it wasn’t for Tim, that case would have never gone to trial,” Buckner said. “He is solely responsible for getting the witnesses in.”
Day was nominated or received certificates and commendations for participation as part of the Neighborhood Resource, VCU and West District Narcotics units.
IMPD Chief Rick Hite described Day as “a fine officer that served our community and department admirably.”
Essential tool in crime fighting
For IMPD, Day’s contributions provided the perfect example of the work done by VCU, which Hite has called “one of the most dangerous and decorated units within IMPD.”
Formed by IMPD in 2007, VCU’s goal is to essentially apprehend violent individuals in an effort to prevent and solve crimes.
In addition to hunting for potentially violent suspects, VCU also monitors people who have violated parole and probation, respond to complaints about violent activity from neighborhoods, look for witnesses to violent crimes and encourage the witnesses to come forward with information.
“Our sole targets are violent criminals and people who are showing violent tendencies who are going to be future shooters, murderers and robbers,” Buckner said. “So we stay busy.”
VCU officers are given a “Viper List” of 100 of the city’s most violent residents, and can choose which cases they would to pursue.
VCU’s work requires a very high level of commitment and dedication. Day’s dedication, for example, was such that the day before he died, he participated in prostitution sweep that lasted until 2 a.m., then came back to work at 8 a.m. that same day.
“It’s not uncommon to leave church on Sunday and get a phone call telling you that you need to get your guys together and go hunt a person that just shot somebody in the face and killed them,” Buckner said.
However, Buckner noted, that the dedication during long shifts, lack of sleep, the constant intake of bad situations and the hyper vigilance involved in pursuing people who commit violent acts can take their toll on the officers’ mental and physical health.
“It’s also stress on the family, because you’re constantly leaving the house, and often the most healthy thing you’re going to eat would be a salad or something from Subway,” Buckner said. “It all builds up on you, but my guys handle it well.”
However, the mug shots of people who committed horrific crimes but have been captured by VCU reminds them of the importance of their work.
“When somebody’s killed there is nothing you can do for them, except to try to catch the person who did it so their family can have a feeling of closure,” Buckner said. “We’re taking bad people off the street, and that gives us hope that we are at least helping to make Indianapolis a better place.”
Buckner said Day will be remembered as a fair man who had respect and notoriety from people in some of the city’s roughest areas. Going to major events with Day such as Circle City Classic and Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration, Buckner said, was “like being with the mayor.”
Day also knew how to get things done, including getting the individuals needed to go undercover and sell drugs in order to capture violent dealers.
“If you needed anything, whether it was tires, Pacers tickets or autograph football helmets, Tim could get it for you. He was like the Donald Trump of the hood,” Buckner said, with a laugh that helped ease his grief. “We have a lot of younger cops who just simply take people to jail. He was the guy who would reason with everybody and talk them into handcuffs. He wasn’t the guy that went down there and tried to bully them. He was always fair.”
During the first week of each month the Indianapolis Recorder will offer IMPD Profiles, an inside look at key people and areas of law enforcement that help make our community safer.
