IMPD reunion with deaf boy spotlights growing interest in ASL among officers, could change communication practices
On Sept. 21, 2026, IMPD Officer Anthony Johnson was surprised by Mark Braster in a visit that followed Braster’s viral ASL video; the encounter and a subsequent visit to IMPD North District have prompted colleagues and community members to express interest in learning American Sign Language.
On Sept. 21, 2026, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officer Anthony Johnson was surprised by Mark Braster in a reunion the story says followed Braster’s viral American Sign Language interaction with an Indianapolis cheerleader. Braster’s mother, Veronica Ochoa, recorded the earlier clip, which the article says has 14 million views, and she and Mark arranged a surprise visit to IMPD’s North District so Mark could interact with officers again.
The article reports the encounter has prompted interest among law enforcement: Ochoa said the moment is inspiring officers nationwide to bring awareness to ASL, and Officer Johnson — who has been with IMPD seven years and studied ASL in college — said colleagues have expressed a desire to learn more signs. The piece frames the visits as an effort to make deaf residents feel seen and safer by increasing basic ASL capacity among officers.
Report a correction · Editorial standards · Our source directory
BusinessIndy examines this development and its implications for Indiana businesses and communities using the linked sources.
Continued verification is in progress.
Sources
A sourced news brief; no independent staff reporting is implied. Prepared with AI assistance; source-dependent claims remain attributed in the article.
Reader discussion
Join the discussion. Every comment is checked before publication. Community rules and appeals