New FWPD incident command center allows police to leverage technology
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA21) - The Fort Wayne Police Department turned an existing space in their headquarters into an incident command center that can better handle critical investigations.
Authorities opened up the space to reporters Thursday morning.
In this transformed space, law enforcement can pull up audio, video, surveillance cameras and police drone footage to help them crack critical cases.
"This room is way beyond the capabilities of our other room," FWPD Chief Steve Reed said.
"It's helped us solve some cases. Again, it's the hard work of the detectives and their investigative skills, but this type of technology really helps."
The Investigations Operations Center took about a year of planning and preparation to perfect, and police have been using the room since December 2020.
The FWPD already has an operations center that allows detectives and other agencies to work together, but this command center provides an easier workflow.
Police didn't want to disclose all of their tactics, but they did say the space allows them to take a bird's-eye view of the city.
"We can do telecommunications here. We can set up our law enforcement drones and monitor those, any on-scene type surveillance cameras that we have, we can monitor those, " Deputy Chief James Feasel said.
Before the use of this room, homicide detectives and staff would huddle around a desk in the office.
The department said the space was made possible by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program.
The federal program offers grants and assistance to police departments across the country.
Gloss