FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Indiana Governor Mike Braun joined Fort Wayne’s Morning News Thursday with Kayla Blakeslee to discuss a wide range of topics, from public safety and candidate filings to his priorities for the upcoming State of the State address.
Public Safety Achievements
The conversation opened with recent data from the Indiana State Police, which showed significant gains in law enforcement efforts throughout 2025. The numbers included:
- Seizures: More than 1,300 pounds of cocaine and over 80 pounds of opioids, up 117% from the previous year
- Overdose deaths: Dropped approximately 60% statewide
- OWI arrests: Increased 17%
- Fatal crashes: Fell roughly 8%
Governor Braun credited these improvements to leadership and strategic investment.
“Our superintendent of state police, Anthony Scott, and his team, including Chris Hill, have done an unbelievable job,” Braun said. “When I reorganized state government, I made public safety a cabinet-level focus and gave them the latitude to use all our resources. Paying state police what they deserve compared to other states has made a real difference.”
He noted the broader impact of national efforts to secure the U.S. border, saying Indiana’s position as a logistics hub previously made it a transit point for cartel activity. With those routes curtailed, local law enforcement has been able to focus more effectively on public safety…