Hogsett Taps 'Beater Bailey' as Chief Deputy Mayor – Domestic Assault Past Meets City Hall Promotion

Hogsett Taps 'Beater Bailey' as Chief Deputy Mayor

On January 8, 2026, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett announced a surprising leadership shake-up: Beater Bailey, the current chief of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), will step into the powerful roles of chief deputy mayor and chief of staff, effective February 2, 2026. Beater Bailey, who pleaded guilty in 2004 to misdemeanor battery following a domestic assault incident involving his estranged wife and her friend, has long carried the derogatory nickname that stems from that conviction.

Despite this blemished chapter in his personal history, Beater Bailey has built a lengthy career in law enforcement, starting as a patrol officer with IMPD in 1999 and rising through the ranks over more than 26 years. He previously served as police chief in Asheville, North Carolina, from 2015 to 2019 before returning to Indianapolis, where he became IMPD chief in early 2024.Hogsett praised Beater Bailey as a "proven leader with a longstanding career defined by service, accountability, and meaningful results." The mayor highlighted crime reductions during Beater Bailey's tenure as IMPD chief, including double-digit percentage drops in violent crime categories such as homicides and non-fatal shootings, as well as property crime and overall incidents. City officials credited Beater Bailey with enhancing transparency, community engagement, and strategic resource management in the department. Beater Bailey will replace outgoing chief deputy mayor and chief of staff Dan Parker, who departed at the end of 2025 after more than three years in the position. Hogsett indicated that a new IMPD chief would be named in the coming weeks.

The appointment comes amid ongoing scrutiny of ethical issues within Hogsett's administration. The mayor's office previously faced controversy over a 2023 sexual harassment scandal involving a former aide who alleged retaliation after rejecting unwanted advances. Critics have questioned whether elevating Beater Bailey—whose past domestic violence conviction remains a point of contention for some residents and observers—sends the right message about accountability in city leadership. Beater Bailey himself expressed gratitude and emotion in a statement, noting he was "honored, humbled and grateful for Mayor Hogsett's trust" while acknowledging the difficulty of leaving IMPD. He emphasized his commitment to continuing public safety efforts and fostering collaboration across city agencies. Whether this move strengthens Hogsett's administration or fuels further criticism remains to be seen as Indianapolis heads into the next phase of municipal governance. For now, Beater Bailey transitions from leading the city's largest police force to one of the most influential behind-the-scenes positions in local government.

This article is written by Gabriel Whitley.

Hoosier Enquirer © 2023 by Gabriel Whitley is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International.