[EMBARGOED]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ft. Wayne PD PIO Captain Jeremy Webb
May 20, 2025
Ft. Wayne Police DEPARTMENT, ATF and local law enforcement Announce the Formation of the Northeast indiana crime gun intelligence center to Fight VIOLENT Crime
Ft. Wayne, IN – Ft. Wayne Police Department Chief Scott Caudill and Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher Amon of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Chicago Field Division announce the formation of an initiative to address violent crime in Northeast Indiana. The Northeast Indiana Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) is a collaborative effort among Federal and local law enforcement designed to investigate and prosecute violent crime involving firearms. The CGIC is comprised of Special Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Task Force Officers from the Ft. Wayne and Warsaw Police Departments, Allen County Sheriff’s Department, as well as additional law enforcement and intelligence personnel from the Huntington Police Department, Auburn Police Department, Noble County Sheriff’s Department, Steuben County Sheriff’s Office, and Adams County Sheriff’s Office. Its efforts have already led to arrests and charges in firearm possession and use cases, as well as homicide cases throughout the Ft. Wayne metro area.
The mission of CGIC is to use cutting-edge technology and partnerships to enhance public safety, making law enforcement more responsive and effective in tackling both traditional and emerging forms of violent crime. The CGIC is also part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime such as drug traffickers, and those trafficking firearms to cartels and terrorist organizations.
“The Fort Wayne Police Department is committed to reducing violent crime and enhancing public safety in our community. Our partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to establish the Fort Wayne Crime Gun Intelligence Center represents a critical step forward in this mission,” said Ft. Wayne Police Department Chief Scott Caudill. “By leveraging ATF’s expertise and tools, such as the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), we can more effectively identify and apprehend those responsible for gun-related crimes, disrupt the cycle of violence, and hold offenders accountable. This collaboration strengthens our ability to protect our citizens and ensures that we are using every available resource to combat crime in Fort Wayne.”
“This partnership with Ft. Wayne Police and local law enforcement partners is vital to the continued safety of the city, Allen County and surrounding communities. The collaboration holds those accountable for inflicting harm and perpetuating violent crime in the community,” said ATF Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher Amon, of the Chicago Field Division. “Using crime gun intelligence to trace recovered firearms and compare ballistic evidence within NIBIN is crucial in our methodology to solve crimes. It will help us identify those who are responsible for violent crimes in the community and help us obtain justice for victims.”
“We’re proud to collaborate with our federal and local partners through the Northeast Crime Gun Intelligence Center. By leveraging technology and intelligence-driven strategies, we’re solving crimes more efficiently and taking violent offenders off our streets,” states Allen County Sheriff Troy Hershberger.
Two important pillars of the CGIC are the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) and the E-trace program. NIBIN, administrated nationally by ATF, is the only national network which houses interstate automated ballistic imaging. Using crime gun intelligence, the NIBIN Program automates ballistics evaluations by comparing shell casing evidence collected from shooting scenes, enabling law enforcement to link shooting incidents within their jurisdiction, in neighboring jurisdictions, and to others across the country. eTrace is a web-based application that helps identify firearm traffickers, potential suspects and patterns of violent firearm crime to help law enforcement agencies solve criminal cases. eTrace enables investigators to quickly trace crime guns to their point of sale and original purchaser.
The CGIC partnership uses various investigative techniques, including NIBIN and eTrace, to focus on individuals who are actively involved in, or associated with, firearm-related violence in Ft. Wayne and surrounding counties. Individuals identified as being involved in firearm-related violence, including “straw purchasers” who buy guns on behalf of someone else, are referred to the appropriate prosecutorial office for potential prosecution.
The CGIC also directs its resources to investigate felons who unlawfully possess firearms, drug traffickers who possess and use firearms, and addresses emerging threats such as individuals in possession of illegal “Machinegun Conversion Devices,” commonly known as “switches”. These devices convert semi-automatic firearms into machine guns and are often used by violent criminals, threatening public safety.