Mayor Sharon Tucker, Police Chief, and advocates outline limited budget, evolving pilot programs, and calls for deeper officer-community ties.

Residents Seek Answers, Leaders Emphasize Collaboration

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — In the wake of a series of violent incidents that have rattled residents, Fort Wayne city leaders convened a public forum this week to address mounting community concerns.

Mayor Sharon Tucker, joined by Police Chief Scott Caudill, community leader Roderick Parker, and representatives from Foundation One, fielded questions at a heavily attended Q&A session focused on youth engagement, policing, and the city’s role in stemming violence.

More than 100 questions were submitted by residents prior to the event, with officials addressing just nine, selected based on community relevance and frequency.

Budget Constraints Meet Community Demand

Among the most pressing concerns raised: the city’s investment in youth programs.

While residents urged broader support for community-led initiatives, Mayor Tucker clarified that budgetary constraints limited direct municipal funding for programs not operated by the city.

“The city is going to work with our not-for-profits like we’ve done,” said Tucker. “We’re looking at ways to support our nonprofits, and we’re looking for different opportunities that could exist for us through pilot programs that we’ll be making some announcements on shortly.”

That acknowledgment comes as many residents push for expanded youth programming, particularly in underserved neighborhoods where after-school activities and mentorship are seen as critical violence prevention tools.

Building Police-Community Trust

Another central theme: the relationship between police and residents.

While Mayor Tucker pointed to various outreach efforts spearheaded by the Fort Wayne Police Department, including public-facing events designed to humanize officers, community advocate Roderick Parker urged deeper engagement strategies.

“Try and find a way to bring officers into the community,” Parker said. “Let the community know, hey this guy is a human just like me… Finding ways to allow some of these officers to be more accessible outside of their job could be important.”

He proposed implementing neighborhood-specific patrol assignments, allowing officers to build long-term relationships and familiarity with the people they serve—an idea that received positive murmurs from the crowd.

Spotlight on Youth Mentorship: “Building Kings”

Mayor Tucker highlighted Building Kings, a grassroots organization focused on mentoring local youth, particularly young boys and teens who are statistically most at risk for involvement in or exposure to violence. The group’s mission—“meeting kids where they are”—aligns with broader city efforts to support intervention-driven models, even as formal funding remains elusive.

While no formal policy changes were announced during the forum, the mayor indicated that new pilot programs are in development—details of which are expected in the coming weeks.

Snapshot: Key Community Themes