The City of Fort Wayne may soon be getting a new Director of Public Safety. Mayor Tom Henry announced Tuesday that current Police Chief Rusty York is his for the new position. The job is being reinstated in part as a response to the near record number of murders the city’s seen this year.
Henry explains that York will oversee the both the Fort Wayne Police and Fire Departments. He’ll also aid collaboration between other public safety agencies, Fort Wayne Community Schools, and faith-based communities.
Henry says "there is no single answer to the criminal element of our community, and everyone should realize that. We need to have a number of things working together."
York will also oversee new academy classes, look for additional grant funding for public safety programs, and work on other contract and budgetary issues.
The position is already budgeted for, but still needs approval from city council, which is expected in the next few weeks. York would begin his new duties as of the first of next year.
His successor as Fort Wayne Police Chief will be announced before the end of this year.