FWPD

The Fort Wayne Police Department unveiled an Engage portal this week which they hope will help them guide future communications.

FWPD Chief P.J. Smith announced Monday that the department will not pursue smaller contracts after the city council voted to cancel its contract with FLOCK. He also said the 36 cameras are now offline and will be removed soon.

Even though Fort Wayne City Council canceled the contract, the police department wants to find a way to keep using the cameras they say are a valuable tool to solve crimes. Mayor Sharon Tucker says "not so fast."

Former Chief Scott Caudill moved into a different role within the department, while P.J. Smith takes over as new chief.

Alongside a number of other agencies and organizations, Fort Wayne police arrested one and seized more than 20 dogs Tuesday afternoon.

On Monday, FWPD asked for help in identifying a shooting victim from the weekend, and then in the afternoon, police were called to the area of State Boulevard and Cass Street for a report of an armed man, making suicidal threats.

Allen County has seen 19 homicides so far in 2025, and many have involved juveniles or young adults, police say.

Patricia Hepworth was shot by FWPD officers last week after the Indiana DOC parole officers tried to serve her with a warrant and she barricaded herself inside her apartment.

The Fort Wayne Police officer has been on the department since 2018. The shooting of the 58-year-old unhoused man in response to a burglary call remains under investigation.

Samuel Sterling Caston was Allen County's 32nd homicide for 2024