Fort Wayne Police Traffic Unit Stops Fewer Drivers

Enforcement efforts credited with reducing traffic violations in high-risk areas

Apr. 16, 2026 at 12:57am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a car's cracked windshield reflecting the harsh glare of a camera flash, conceptually representing the gritty reality of traffic enforcement and the consequences of reckless driving.Targeted traffic enforcement aims to curb dangerous driving behaviors and improve public safety in Fort Wayne.Fort Wayne Today

The Fort Wayne Police Department's Traffic Unit has seen a significant drop in the number of traffic stops made in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Sergeant Shane Pulver attributes this decline to the unit's enforcement efforts successfully deterring reckless driving behaviors in targeted high-risk areas of the city.

Why it matters

The Traffic Unit was reestablished in 2024 to address community concerns about speeding, reckless driving, and disregard for traffic signals. While the overall number of traffic stops by the entire FWPD force remains high, the Traffic Unit's declining stop numbers suggest their focused patrols and enforcement are having the desired effect of improving driver behavior and public safety.

The details

In the first quarter of 2026, the FWPD Traffic Unit made 1,336 traffic stops, down from 2,126 stops in the same period in 2025. However, the overall number of traffic stops by the entire FWPD force remained high at 7,011 in Q1 2026. Sergeant Pulver explained that the Traffic Unit, which consists of only 3 officers out of the department's 285 total, is able to make far more stops per officer than the average FWPD patrol officer.

  • The FWPD Traffic Unit was reestablished in 2024.
  • In the first quarter of 2025, the Traffic Unit made 2,126 traffic stops.
  • In the first quarter of 2026, the Traffic Unit made 1,336 traffic stops, a decrease of 790 stops.

The players

Sergeant Shane Pulver

A supervisor with the Fort Wayne Police Department's Traffic Unit.

Fort Wayne Police Department

The local law enforcement agency in Fort Wayne, Indiana that oversees the Traffic Unit.

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What they’re saying

“Our main goal is to slow and deter traffic crime in areas where we have fatal accidents or near fatal accidents.”

— Sergeant Shane Pulver, Supervisor, FWPD Traffic Unit

“I believe the enforcement action of the officers of the unit is working to reduce those infractions.”

— Sergeant Shane Pulver, Supervisor, FWPD Traffic Unit

What’s next

The FWPD Traffic Unit will continue to monitor high-risk intersections and areas of the city to identify locations that require focused enforcement to improve driver behavior and public safety.

The takeaway

The declining number of traffic stops by the FWPD Traffic Unit suggests their targeted enforcement efforts are successfully deterring reckless driving behaviors in Fort Wayne. This proactive approach to traffic safety could serve as a model for other police departments looking to address community concerns about dangerous driving.