IN THE HOT SEAT

Indianapolis Police Chief James Toler discusses violence in schools and the responsibility of being the first black chief.

After he finished high school, he thought he would be a construction worker or enlist in the Air Force. But he didn't. Instead, he applied for a job he heard about on the radio.

Now we know him as Indianapolis Chief of Police James D. Toler.

You would think Toler is an active person, with a hectic job as a head of the city's police force. But, really, he is just like anyone else. In fact, a self-described couch potato, he watches TV and listens to music in his spare time.

To become a police officer, Toler attended 12 weeks of recruit school. His first assignment was to ride with an older officer. After that, he was on his own.

In his 30 years with the Indianapolis Police Department, he has gone through the ranks: sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major and now chief.

Elation, surprise and fear

And in early 1992, when Mayor Stephen Goldsmith made the announcement that Toler was to become his police chief, Toler says his first reaction was "one of elation, one of surprise, and some degree of fear."

According to the 51-year-old Toler, "Being appointed chief of police of Indianapolis was as big a surprise to me as it was to everyone else."

While considering the appointment as the first black chief of police an honor, he says it doesn't come without headaches.

"It's also a burden, in the sense of being the first black. I feel a tremendous responsibility to do very well in the position so that if the opportunity comes for the selection of another minority . . . they would never be able to look at me and look at me as a failure.

"So I need to prove to the community at large, and in particular, to the black community, that an Afro-American can do well in a responsible position," he continues.

"It's a burden. It's an enjoyable burden, but it's a burden."

Violence in schools

During the last year, he has had to deal with a variety of problems, such as increasing violence in the school systems.

"It's certainly a problem," he says. "It's one that needs to be addressed. And I say that cautiously because we're not to the point that some other cities our size are."

Toler supports the use of random locker searches and metal detectors to prevent students from bringing drugs and weapons to schools.

"I think that (Indianapolis Public Schools) superintendent (Shirl) Gilbert has taken a step in the right direction. It's terrible that we go to that extent, that you have metal detectors at the doors, or that you have surprise locker searches . . .

"I think it's a deterrent. It's certainly not the solution. Whatever that solution would be, (it) would be one that kids wouldn't even think about carrying any weapons to school, or feel a need to carry weapons."

Toler believes gangs are responsible for some school violence, but not all of it.

"Now that gangs are popular, we try to blame everything on gangs. If (violence) is gang-related, I would say that it's probably over something very silly, (such as) `You're on my turf that you shouldn't be in,' or `You gave the wrong sign,' or `You wore the wrong colors.' "

IPD's Metro Gang Task Force checks out gang activity in the city and works closely with the schools on gang problems, Toler said. But he emphasized that the schools usually determine when police are called in.

"We get involved, unfortunately, if there is something tragic that happens," he added.

Seeks different school role

Toler would like the police to have a more informational role in schools, rather than just appear when there is trouble. He talked about the new Officer Friendly program, in which police come into schools and describe the different laws and "let people know why the police do the kinds of things they do."

"We're trying to pursue a communication effort . . . as opposed to being the bad policeman with a stick," he explains.

Toler's advice to boys and girls interested in police work ("Don't say a policewoman; you want to be a police officer," he instructs) is the same:

"Don't look for big rewards - don't expect big rewards. Just be happy with the job."

EDITED BY: Lanay Hight, 14, and Michelle Lammers, 14.