Greater Fort Wayne Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization that offers cash rewards and anonymity for tips that lead to an arrest. It's part of a national organization, but is operated by local citizens with the cooperation of city and county law enforcement, covering ten Indiana counties and three Ohio counties.
The Crime Analysis Unit is responsible to review felony and misdemeanor reports for data accuracy, crime information and patterns. If a pattern or trend is identified, then it is assessed. Maps & datasets are also developed and forwarded to the appropriate quadrant commanders and/or to the Investigative Support Division section commanders. Statistical information is compiled and forwarded to the FBI-UCR using their summary based electronic format system of reporting.
The unit reviews daily crime reports, hosts weekly Comstat meetings, prepares daily incident summary, prepares a weekly active warrant report, and monthly statistical reports for police commanders. Additional assignments include:
The Evidence & Property Room provides for the security and control of all seized, recovered and evidentiary property, as well as abandoned, lost, and/or found property in the custody of this agency. The Evidence and Property Room’s responsibilities are to ensure all evidence collected and turned in is in accordance to the Fort Wayne Police Department’s policies and procedures. The Unit is responsible for maintaining the integrity of evidence by ensuring the proper handling, coding and storage of evidence to assist in investigations, prosecutions and the return of property to its rightful owner. The Evidence & Property Room can be reached at 260-427-2034.
The Crime Scene Management Unit is supervised by two sergeants and staffed with nine technicians. They are responsible for the proper documentation, preservation and collection of items of potential evidence for major felony crimes that occur within the City of Fort Wayne. The Crime Scene Management section of the Fort Wayne Police Department strives to have individuals trained in the latest methods of documentation, preservation and collection of evidentiary items. The technicians comprising the Crime Scene Management section should be capable of processing any scene in a competent and professional manner while participating fully in the Fort Wayne Police Departments Community Oriented Policing philosophy.
The Digital Forensics Laboratory Unit (DFLU) conducts acquisition and examination of any electronic evidence. The electronic evidence is wide ranging, varying, and constantly changing requiring the examiners to train and remain current with this ever-changing technology. The DFLU also analyzes data and media rendering scientific opinions. This includes the analysis of mobile devices network communications including, cell phone call detail records, cell phone precision geolocation data, location data, and any other geo-based location data. Furthermore, the DFLU examiners analyze and compare video and image evidence to assist with the identification of suspects or suspect vehicles that were captured in a video or image. The DFLU examiners maintain proficiency through constant training and professional development. These positions are skilled competencies that require the maintenance of certifications in each area of digital forensics.
It is the mission of the Fort Wayne Police Laboratory (FWPL) to search for the presence of latent fingerprint/palm print evidence on items of potential evidence related to criminal activity. FWPL is responsible for conducting forensic examinations on evidence collected and submitted from various crime scenes including, but not limited to: latent fingerprint and palm print evidence, footwear, tire/track, postmortem fingerprints and other physical comparison for supporting the department in criminal investigations.The FWPL upon finding such evidence will use all legal and scientific means at its disposal to come to a conclusion in regards to the latent impressions noted or developed. Laboratory personnel will testify to those conclusions when subpoenaed to a court of law.
The Pawn Detail Unit is a part of the Property Crimes Section of the Investigative Support Division of the Fort Wayne Police Department.The responsibilities of this detail include the recovery of stolen property at pawnshops and jewelry stores that purchase items from the public and are subject to City Ordinance 115. Further, this detail is responsible for maintaining the local “Known Offenders” list, and coordinating with local businesses to ensure that they comply with City Ordinance 115. For 2020, no businesses in Fort Wayne were cited for violating City Ordinance 115.
