Officer Involved Shooting - 1/8/25 - Patricia Hepworth скачать в хорошем качестве

Officer Involved Shooting - 1/8/25 - Patricia Hepworth

On 1/8/25, Officers of the Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD) were called to assist Indiana State Department of Corrections Parole Officers with an armed parolee, Patricia Hepworth. During this incident, Officers discharged their firearms killing Hepworth who had charged officers while holding two knives. Critical Incident Videos The Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD) is committed to transparency and accountability. To help our community understand significant police incidents, the department produces Critical Incident Videos (CIVs). These videos are designed to provide factual, objective information about major incidents as the investigations progress. ________________________________________ Purpose of Critical Incident Videos Critical Incident Videos are created to clearly and accurately describe what occurred during significant events involving FWPD officers. These briefings aim to provide the community with timely, factual information—not to draw conclusions or assign blame. FWPD produces Critical Incident Videos for: • Officer-Involved Shootings • Other major incidents as determined by the Chief of Police Each video may include: • Portions of body-worn and in-car camera footage • Dispatch audio recordings • Maps, diagrams, or other relevant evidence • Information known to the involved officers at the time FWPD ensures that all information presented is verified and accurate before public release. ________________________________________ What These Videos Show Critical Incident Videos summarize the facts as known to investigators at the time the video is created. Because investigations often continue after release, additional evidence or witnesses may later clarify or alter the understanding of events. The purpose of these videos is to inform the community, not to provide a final conclusion. Ultimately, viewers are encouraged to evaluate the information for themselves as investigations unfold. ________________________________________ Officer-Involved Shooting Investigations Following an Officer-Involved Shooting, two parallel investigations occur — criminal and internal: Criminal Investigation • Conducted by FWPD’s Homicide Unit, whose detectives have specialized training in officer-involved shooting cases. • The investigation is forwarded to the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office for review. • The Indiana State Police (ISP) conducts an independent criminal investigation to ensure impartiality. • Both FWPD and ISP reports are reviewed by the Prosecutor’s Office. Officers involved are entitled to the same rights as any citizen, including Miranda Rights (the right to remain silent). Internal (Administrative) Investigation • Conducted by FWPD’s Internal Affairs Division to determine whether department policies and procedures were followed. • This process is separate from the criminal investigation. • Officers are required to provide statements in administrative investigations under Garrity Rights, meaning those statements cannot be used in criminal proceedings or shared publicly. ________________________________________ How Critical Incident Videos Are Created The goal of each Critical Incident Video is to condense extensive amounts of video and audio into a concise, understandable presentation that highlights the key facts of the incident. • Raw footage is never altered or edited. All original body-worn and in-car camera video remains preserved as evidence in its original form. • Footage may be enhanced for clarity, such as slowing playback, pausing, or adding text to explain what is being shown. • Certain images may be blurred or obscured in accordance with Indiana law (e.g., to protect victims or minors). • In incidents involving multiple officers, relevant portions from several cameras may be combined for clarity. The final product is a factual, objective summary meant to help the community understand what occurred — without changing or omitting relevant content. ________________________________________ Family Review Prior to public release, FWPD offers the family of the involved individual the opportunity to privately view the Critical Incident Video. This meeting occurs before any footage is made available to the public or media. ________________________________________ FWPD’s Commitment to Transparency The Fort Wayne Police Department recognizes the importance of maintaining public trust. Critical Incident Videos are one of several tools we use to promote transparency, accountability, and open communication with our community.