A member of the sheriff's office sits in a white car, handing a community member holding a flashlight his license.
A community member at the Marion County Sheriff's Office's "Through My Eyes" event acts as a deputy in a traffic stop role-reversal exercise at the sheriff's office's training academy in Indianapolis. Credit: Provided photo/Marion County Sheriff's Office

Ever wanted to know what it’s like to pull over a deputy from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office? At the “Through My Eyes” Thursday, March 14, community members and deputies will do role-reversal exercises, with the goal of having conversations to better understand each other. The event is from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Training Academy, 901 N. Post Road. 

MCSO deputies and command staff members, Lionel Rush of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Greater Indianapolis and representatives from Martin University will lead discussions about the way the sheriff’s office conducts traffic stops, the emotions both parties feel during a stop and citizens’ experiences with law enforcement. 

A group of people stand in a circle in a parking lot, listening to a member of the Marion County Sherriff's Office talk.
Community members and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office talk at the “Through My Eyes” community event at the sheriff’s office’s training academy in Indianapolis. Credit: Provided photo/Marion County Sheriff's Office

During role-reversal exercises, citizens and officers will take turns acting as the person pulled over in a traffic stop. The role-playing is meant to show each party how the other person feels during a traffic stop and why officers use the techniques they do.  

“The goal is for both law enforcement and community members to learn what can be done by both groups to make a traffic stop easier and safer for all involved,” said Allison Marshall, public information officer for the MCSO. 

Participants can enter the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Training Academy through door no. 9.

Mirror Indy reporter Sophie Young covers services and resources. Contact her at sophie.young@mirrorindy.org.

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