Speedway PD

05/21/2026

INDY 500 PARKING ADVISORY!!

Attention residents and visitors:

Parking restrictions for race activities will begin tonight at 6:00 PM in all posted areas marked with special event parking signs.

Vehicles parked in restricted areas after 6:00 PM tonight may be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense to ensure the race course and event operations can be safely set up.

Please check all posted signage before parking and make alternate parking arrangements if your vehicle is currently located in a restricted area.

We appreciate your cooperation as we prepare for a safe and successful event for participants, spectators, and the community.

For event information and parking updates, please monitor our social media pages and official event communications.

Thank you and have a fun and safe race weekend!

05/19/2026

To continue our historical series for the Town's 100th anniversary, let's talk about the long relationship between the Speedway Police Department and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway!

In the early days of the race, security was provided by the Indiana National Guard. Each May, hundreds of Guardsmen would provide basic security functions and ensure a safe presence. In 1935, our partners at the Indiana State Police began assisting with the event. If you recall from a previous post, the Speedway Town Marshal's Office only had a couple of deputy marshals and no official police car in 1935. Assistance from our valuable law enforcement partners has always been critical to the safety of the Indy 500 and other events!

By 1941, IMS Safety Director William Carpenter decided to use the 1,200 members of the newly formed Indiana State Guard as security for the event. The members of the Indiana State Guard were sworn in as Deputy Marshals for one day to assist with the event. The Indiana State Guard was assisted by the Marion County Sheriff's Office and the Indianapolis Police. Just like the Indiana State Police, IMPD and MCSO continue to play a huge role in this event today.

In 1972, another layer of assistance was added with the creation of the "500 Traffic Force." The 500 Traffic Force was a group of 45 Speedway residents who volunteered to help direct traffic in the neighborhoods on race weekend. The members of 500 Traffic Force received training from the military police at Ft. Benjamin Harrison, as well as practical experience at various intersections in Speedway before the race. Each member was also given training in first aid, community relations, and department regulations. Members of the 500 Traffic Force received a pay of $20 per day. Issued equipment included a nightstick, badge, white gloves, and a white helmet. They also wore a distinctive checkered flag shirts.

Today, race weekends are an "all hands on deck" event for the Speedway Police Department. Your officers will be patrolling the neighborhoods, escorting VIPs, providing security at concerts, directing traffic, taking calls inside the IMS, riding ATVs on Georgetown Rd., and a wide variety of other tasks. It's a busy weekend, but one we look forward to every year.

Wishing everyone a safe Memorial Day weekend!

05/11/2026

May 10th through May 16th is National Police Week. Our department proudly honors the dedicated men and women who serve our community every day.

To our officers, thank you for your courage, commitment, and professionalism. You show up every day ready to protect, serve, and make a difference, often in ways most will never see.

We are grateful for your sacrifice, your families’ support, and the integrity you bring to this profession.

We are proud to serve alongside you. Stay safe, and thank you for all you do.

05/08/2026

The “Young Men of Purpose” and “Young Women of Purpose” initiatives are structured mentorship programs designed to guide students toward becoming responsible, confident, and successful young adults. These groups focus on providing positive role models, fostering discipline, academic accountability, leadership, and emotional growth while helping students build a secure and purposeful future.

At Fisher Elementary, Mr. Bourke and Ofc. Howery meet with the students every Tuesday during lunch in the classroom. The conversations are real, meaningful, and centered around life lessons, decision-making, respect, and personal growth.

At Wheeler, Mr. Mahan and Mrs. Clay lead the 6th grade groups, where we also attend and provide real-life input and mentorship to the students.

With Chief Upchurch helping make the event possible, to celebrate a successful year, the Speedway Police Department proudly sponsors a pizza lunch for the groups towards the end of the school year. We are grateful for the opportunity to invest in these young leaders and look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in their lives.

05/07/2026

Congratulations to Officer Highland on his successful completion of motorcycle school and earning his cycle wings!

The training he underwent is a very intensive two-week program that tests participants both physically and mentally. Now that May and warmer weather is upon us, you will see Officer Highland and other motorcycle officers out on the roads.

Congratulations Officer Highland!

04/30/2026

04/27/2026

Welcome back to our year-long historical series to celebrate the Town’s 100th anniversary! We decided to switch gears with the month of May coming and talk about some of the police cars we’ve had over the years.

The first mention of buying a dedicated police vehicle was in October of 1940. The marshals had been using a Town dump truck for police duty prior to that. One of the difficulties encountered when buying cars in those years was the lack of availability due to World War II. After buying this first car, it would be two years before the Town would be able to purchase another used car. When the second car began having mechanical problems in 1943, no replacement could be found. Regular repairs were continually made to it until another car could be obtained after the end of the war.

Officers shared usage of the police car until a proposal was made in 1970 to purchase enough cars that each officer could have their own to take home. The reasoning for wanting each officer to have his/her own car was to give the appearance of more cars on patrol, and because officers would be inclined to take better care of the cars if they were individually assigned. These new Ford V8s were eventually leased from Hatfield Ford for $129 per month each in 1971. With officers taking these cars home, the tradition of annual inspections began. These inspections of cars and equipment were conducted by the Chief and the Police Board. These inspections continue today, with each shift’s Lieutenant inspecting the vehicles, uniforms, fi****ms, and all issued equipment.

Over the years, a variety of police cars have been used by the Speedway Police Department. The current fleet are the first to all be SUVs. In addition to these SUVs, the department has several motorcycles, ATVs, and other support vehicles.

Next month we will highlight the police department’s relationship with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500. Stay tuned!

We have done our best with the assistance of AI to identify the year and model of the cars shown in the photos. If you have an eye for cars and can help us out, post in the comments!

04/24/2026

Please join us in congratulating Officer Whitton on successfully completing the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy!

After 16 weeks of rigorous training, dedication, and hard work, he has reached an important milestone and will now be preparing to begin field training with our department. This hands-on experience will further develop his skills and knowledge needed to serve and protect our community.

We’re proud to welcome Officer Whitton to our team and look forward to the positive impact he will make.

04/21/2026

Thanks for inviting us over to share what we do!

04/17/2026

As National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is coming to a close, we want to say thank you to those who help keep our communities safe!

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