The Investigative Support Division (ISD) is commanded by Deputy Chief James Feasel and Captains Thomas Bandor and Matthew Enyeart.
The ISD is responsible for the felony investigative function of the Fort Wayne Police Department. Most of the sections are focused on specific or specialized areas of investigating criminal acts or support functions thereof. When citizens call the police to report felony criminal acts the usual response that comes to mind or is depicted in media coverage is the very visible response of marked police cars, lights, sirens, and uniformed officers. While the initial response is a major and necessary function of a police department within a community, it is the aftermath or follow-up stages of investigating an incident that, while not so visible, is a vital function of police services. The over one hundred sworn police officers and civilian support staff assigned to the Investigate Support Division are committed to providing services to the citizens of Fort Wayne, bringing criminal suspects to trial and obtaining justice for victims of crime. The Investigative Support Division can be reached at: 260-427-1201. The following are the various sections/units of this division:
Homicide Section
The Homicide Section of the Fort Wayne Police Department is staffed with one sergeant and eight investigators, who are all required to be on-call. The Homicide Section is responsible for investigating all deaths or near deaths that appear to be suspicious in nature and all batteries by the use of a firearm. The Cold Case/Missing Person Section has one investigator, who reviews all missing persons and endangered runaways along with Cold Case Homicides. Investigators in these sections do and must work well with outside agencies such as the Allen County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Indiana State Police, Allen County Police Department, Allen County Coroner’s Office, Department of Child Services, FBI, DEA, NCMEC, and ATF.
Robbery Section
The Robbery Division of the Fort Wayne Police Department staffed with one sergeant and eight detectives. The Robbery Division primary responsibilities include responding to all robberies, which occur during shift hours as well as Criminal Recklessness, Felony Batteries (other than Domestic) that occur on shift. They are also tasked with the follow up investigations on all Robberies, Felony Batteries (other than Domestic) and Criminal Recklessness cases which occurred previously and assisting detectives in the Homicide Division. The Robbery Division still responds to, investigates all bank robberies that occur within the city jurisdiction, and works in conjunction with the FBI in solving these crimes.
Crimes against Persons Division
The Crimes against Persons Section (CAP) of the Investigative Support Division (ISD) is staffed with one sergeant and eight detectives who investigate felony cases that occurred inside the Fort Wayne city limits. The type of crimes investigated by CAP Detectives include rapes, sexual battery, child molesting, sexual misconduct with minors, child abuse, child neglect, voyeurism, stalking, and battery to elderly persons or persons with developmental delays. Many of these crimes are reported to the CAP Section of the ISD by outside agencies due to a delay in reporting by the victim. In addition, the CAP Section of the ISD also investigates Internet Crimes against Children (ICAC). These types of investigations include child internet predators, child pornography, child exploitation, and child solicitation.
CAP Detectives work on cases that are very sensitive in nature. They must possess strong interview and interpersonal skills, investigative knowledge, and ethics. Detectives in the CAP Section of the ISD must also have the ability to work well with outside agencies, such as the Department of Child Services, Allen County Prosecutors Office, Adult Protective Services, Sexual Assault Treatment Center, Center for Children, Indiana State Police, National Missing and Exploited Children, Federal Bureau of Investigations, and other law enforcement agencies.
Domestic Violence Section
The Domestic Violence (D.V.) Investigative Section was formed in 2004 using a Department of Justice grant to increase response and prosecution of domestic violence cases. The section works felony cases between adults with most cases having multiple charges (which may also include misdemeanors). The D.V. Section is partially funded by a STOP grant from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute that helps supplement the Police Departments personnel costs, as well as a Victims Advocate position that is assigned to the Victims Assistance Unit. There continues to be changes to the Indiana domestic laws. Domestic/family violence dynamics are always difficult to investigate and pursue as family issues, along with victims and witnesses who are afraid of the retaliation from the suspects. Victims also fear losing their partners, their incomes and their children. Most often these crimes occur inside out of public view so lack of on- scene witnesses will hamper prosecution. The laws and procedures are constantly changing making it difficult to prosecute and hold offenders accountable. With the influx of social media, there are more and more requirements of forensics to prosecute.
Juvenile Crimes Section
The Juvenile Aid Division (JAD) is responsible for investigating crimes which involve individuals (17) years of age and younger. The section is also responsible for the investigating of juvenile runaways and custodial interference investigations along with property crimes, sex crimes, crimes against persons and crimes that occur in the school setting. The juvenile system in the United State differs vastly from the adult criminal justice system. There are additional procedures and differently terminology used. The juvenile section is currently staffed with one supervisor and four detectives.
Property Crimes Section
The Property Crimes Section is responsible for investigating felony property crimes such as burglary, felony theft, employee theft, and possession of stolen property. The section is divided into two areas: east and west.
Financial Crimes Division
The section is responsible for insufficient funds checks over $750.00. Counterfeit checks, forged stolen checks and other types of forged documents, credit card fraud and fraud on financial institutions, identity theft, insurance fraud, utility fraud, counterfeit currency, and power of attorney illegally obtained from Adult Protective Services, and a variety of frauds and computer related crimes.
Missing Persons Unit
The Missing Persons Unit investigates all missing or abducted persons in the City of Fort Wayne. Its goal is the safe return of missing individuals to their family and loved ones.
How to report a missing person
Anyone may report a person missing, and there is no waiting period. You must report to the city where the missing person was last seen. If there was force or foul play, call 911. Otherwise, follow the steps below. Please visit the MISSING PERSONS page to see a current list of missing individuals. The Missing Persons Section can be reached at 260-427-1202.
Step 1: Gather information on your runaway or missing person. Officers will need:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Height
- Weight
- Hair and eye color
- Last known address
- If they drive a vehicle, the make, model, color, and plate if possible
- Current photo or photos
- Custody or court paperwork, including visitation, guardianship, or protective orders
Step 2: Report to the Fort Wayne Police Department headquarterswith the above information.
1 E. Main Street,
Suite 108
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Step 3: Contact friends, family, and others. Look for your runaway or missing person, gather information, and once contacted by a detective, share that information. You can help by actively assisting the police.
Auto Theft Unit
The Fort Wayne Police Department’s Auto Theft Section is a subsection of the Investigative Support Division’s Property Crimes Section. Although much of their work goes unnoticed, they play an important role in the Investigative Support Division. Their duties go far beyond investigating stolen vehicle cases. In addition to stolen vehicles, they also investigate the theft of trailers, ATVs, lawnmowers, construction equipment and vehicle parts. They are often called upon for information regarding vehicles involved in other crimes or civil issues. Much of the Auto Theft Detectives time is spent working with records and the tow lots on vehicles that have been towed by the Department for various reasons. They also monitor the stolen and recovery reports and work with the BMV on titling problems and title histories. They also conduct vehicle inspections; work with the Attorney General’s Office in policing the dealerships and answer questions from uniform officers, as well as officers from other area agencies. The nature of their investigations puts them in touch with police agencies from all over the United States and at times from other countries.
Crime Suppression Unit
The Crime Suppression Unit was implemented in January 2008. The Crime Suppression Unit tracks the burglaries citywide and to look for patterns and similarities. They also identify individuals suspected of perpetrating numerous burglaries and other felony property crimes. The detectives are tasked with thoroughly investigating the cases that fall into these categories until an arrest is made, or all investigative resources are exhausted The Detectives assigned to the Crime Suppression Unit are encouraged the work together on cases and to work with uniform and other detectives in the property crimes section. There is one sergeant and four detectives assigned to the Unit. Their primary responsibility is to investigate burglaries, but may also work other felony theft cases, as well as battery to law enforcement, domestic battery, rape, robbery, fraud, felony trespass, felony fleeing, felony criminal mischief and a non-fatal shooting.
Street Crimes Unit
The Street Crimes Unit (SCU) is staffed with one sergeant and five detectives. The Unit began its operation in January 2017. The SCU addresses crimes that are being committed by the same criminals on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, either individually or as a group. SCU gathers all the needed documentation and witness statements to assemble a case against these individuals.
Pawn Detail Unit
The Pawn Detail is a part of the Property Crimes Section of the Investigative Support Division of the Fort Wayne Police Department and primarily conducts preliminary investigations for the Property Crimes Section involving recovered property taken in thefts/burglary investigations. It is supervised by one sergeant and staffed with one full time by a single detective. 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 2018, no businesses in Fort Wayne were cited for violating City Ordinance 115.
Latent Fingerprint Laboratory
The Fort Wayne Police Laboratory (FWPL) is staffed with three civilian employees. It is the mission of the Fort Wayne Police Laboratory to search for the presence of latent fingerprint/palm print evidence on items of potential evidence related to criminal activity. The Fort Wayne Police Laboratory 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.
Digital Forensics Laboratory
The Digital Forensics Laboratory conducts the examination of any electronic media evidence and analysis. This is typically, but not limited to: computer hard drives, memory cards, CDs, DVD’s, cell phones, digital cameras, and video surveillance systems. The Unit also performs cell phone records analysis. The Unit is staffed with one sergeant and four detectives. Cell phone and tablet examinations are increasing every year, along with digital video surveillance enhancements, the size of the storage media being examined is increasing exponentially. This increases the time required to process the data.
Crime Scene Management
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.
Evidence/Property
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.
Victim Assistance
The Victim Assistance (VA) program provides comprehensive crime victim services to the City of Fort Wayne and surrounding communities. Advocates and volunteers passionately work to provide information to crime victims to reduce re-victimization as victims navigate through the criminal justice system. Primary and secondary crime victims receive direct services to help stabilize their lives and meet their immediate needs. The outreach program initiates contact to inform victims about available services and their rights as crime victims and survivors. Victim’s Assistance collaborates with a number of community and state agencies to provide training, community events and projects developed to address the emotional, physical, financial, social, spiritual, and cultural needs of crime victims. To contact Victim Assistance, please call 260-427-1205.
Please visit the VICTIM ASSISTANCE FACEBOOK PAGE.
Crime Analysis
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, it is assessed developing maps and datasets and then 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.
Crime Stoppers
The Greater Fort Wayne Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization that offers cash rewards and anonymity for tips that lead to an arrest. It is part of a national organization, but is operated by a Board of Directors consisting of local citizens with the cooperation of City and County law enforcement, covering ten Indiana counties and three Ohio counties. Crime Stoppers maintains a 1-800 tip line, local tip line, WEBSITE and FACEBOOK PAGE
Police Chaplain Program
Chaplain Richard Hartman serves as the Lead Chaplain for the department.
Police Chaplaincy is a ministry of compassion, presence, and prayer set within the dangerous world of law enforcement. Nine active chaplains currently volunteer their assistance. Police Chaplains serve the officers and civilian personnel of the police department and the community in which they live. They provide emergency counseling to those in crisis, make death notifications with compassion, pray with those who are in trouble, and provide a compassionate presence to those in grief. While the work of the Police Chaplain is sometimes difficult and taxing, the satisfaction gained by ministering to those in the worst possible situations is reward in and of itself.