Violence has shaken Allen County again — but Commissioner Ron Turpin says this time, the community won’t just talk about it. They’re going to do something. His new plan, ‘Restore Allen,’ brings together everyone from prosecutors to pastors to hammer out a strategy to reduce violence that’s long plagued Fort Wayne and its surrounding towns.
From Talk to Action
It was Fort Wayne’s recent deadly downtown shooting that rattled many folks awake. But Turpin says these tragedies didn’t just pop up overnight.
“This isn’t new,” he says, his tone equal parts concerned and determined. “We have to address it now before it becomes truly out of control.”
His big question? What’s pushing so many people into jail cells in the first place.
Who’s Around the Table?
The ‘Restore Allen’ project isn’t just one politician’s plan scribbled on a notepad. Turpin’s drawn in a wide circle:
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The county prosecutor
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Sheriff’s office
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Local judges
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Community corrections
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Nonprofits
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The jail chaplain
And that’s just the start. By pulling in people who see the problem daily — from the courtroom to the homeless shelter — Turpin hopes they’ll find the roots, not just the branches.
Focusing on What’s Broken
One thing’s clear: ‘Restore Allen’ won’t slap a single band-aid on a gaping wound. The committees are digging into what’s driving violence. Turpin rattles off the list like a grocery run for change.
“Homelessness. Affordable housing. Employment with sustainable wages. Addiction. Mental illness.”
It’s all tangled together — and fixing it means looking at the bigger picture.
It Starts With the Kids
What keeps Turpin up at night? Young people caught in the crossfire — literally.
Fort Wayne’s seen a spike in teen shootings. So the initiative’s blueprint will zoom in on steering youth away from gangs, drugs, and the violence that follows when there’s no support at home.
One mom from southeast Fort Wayne said, “Some kids just don’t have anyone telling them they matter. They find that family on the streets. That’s when things go bad.”
Small Steps, Big Blueprint
Right now, there’s no final plan. Committees are still gathering ideas. But over the next few months, they’ll hammer out concrete steps.
Turpin promises the result won’t gather dust on a shelf.
| Key Areas of Focus | Potential Impact |
|---|---|
| Housing | Reduce homelessness, stability |
| Jobs | Sustainable income, less crime |
| Mental Health | Address addiction, violence |
| Youth Support | Prevention, community trust |
Everyone Has Skin in the Game
One thing Turpin wants every Allen County resident to hear: this affects you, whether you think it does or not.
“At times we think, ‘Well, that doesn’t affect me. The violence is downtown.’ But it does,” he says.
Police, jails, and courtrooms all cost money — your money. And the human toll? Priceless.
So if ‘Restore Allen’ can work? Maybe it saves more than a budget line. Maybe it saves lives.
