Security review recommends more than 50 measures; CIB hires dedicated convention center security manager

A security assessment of the Indiana Convention Center presented to the Capital Improvements Board of Marion County recommended more than 50 strategic and tactical changes aimed at tightening event security while preserving the center’s role as an open, entertainment-focused venue.

Teneo principals — including former New York and Los Angeles Police Department Commissioner William Bratton — presented the findings during the board’s meeting. Bratton said the consultancy “put together a very comprehensive set of recommendations” after reviewing policies, conducting site visits and meeting dozens of stakeholders.

The report’s core recommendations, summarized by Teneo lead Courtney Adante, fall into two buckets: program structure and event security, and infrastructure and technology. On the program side, Teneo recommended creating dedicated convention-center security roles, increasing security headcount, instituting performance standards and establishing an event risk-rating system so that security staffing and measures are tailored to each event’s size, profile and threat characteristics. On the infrastructure side the firm recommended layered perimeter and internal security, stronger access controls and enhanced use and expansion of the existing video-surveillance and security-operations technology.

The consultants emphasized balancing security and accessibility. Bratton told the board that “the safest convention center is one that’s closed and locked,” then added that the recommendations were designed to avoid turning the Convention Center into a restrictive environment. Adante said the report "culminated in roughly 50 recommendations, both strategic and in some tactical" items and underscored that many recommendations sought to preserve the visitor experience while improving safety.

Board discussion confirmed the assessment focused specifically on the convention center property, not Lucas Oil Stadium. Board members asked whether recommendations meant third-party contractors or in-house hires; Teneo and board staff said the answer could be both depending on the function. The consultants also noted close coordination with Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and other downtown public-safety partners would be required for implementation.

The board reported it has already begun implementing some recommendations. The organization restructured security leadership: Paul Suter, who previously oversaw both Lucas Oil Stadium and the Convention Center, now focuses on the stadium; Brian Moore, described in the meeting as having “decades and decades of work with IMPD, special operations and special projects,” has been assigned as the Convention Center’s senior manager for security. Board members said Moore’s role will be to lead methodical implementation of the consultant recommendations.

Teneo offered to assist with implementation and told the board the firm would be available to partner on follow-up work.

Why it matters: The Convention Center is a high-traffic public venue and a major economic engine for downtown Indianapolis. Board members and consultants said updating security practices is urgent both because of changing threat conditions and because the city hosts an expanding number of large, high-profile events that require tailored security planning.

Next steps noted in the meeting included a phased implementation of recommendations, closer integration of the Convention Center security operation with city public-safety partners, and continued staff work to convert the consultant’s recommendations into concrete staffing, technology and procedure changes.