Peru Police Department

05/10/2026

Peru Police Department to increase patrols to target seatbelt enforcement

Peru, Indiana – Peru Police Department is partnering with the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) to urge Hoosiers to buckle up as part of the national “Click It or Ticket” campaign, a high-visibility enforcement effort focused on increasing seatbelt use.

Beginning May 11 through May 31, 2026, officers will work overtime to ensure drivers and passengers are using their seatbelts and children are properly secured. The overtime patrols are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through ICJI’s Comprehensive Highway Injury Reduction Program (CHIRP).

“Buckling up is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect yourself and your loved ones on the road,” said Douglas Huntsinger, executive director of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. “Seatbelts save lives every day, and every trip should begin with making sure everyone is secured before hitting the road.”

Since 2021, Indiana has seen a steady decline in fatalities among passenger vehicle occupants not wearing seatbelts. Seatbelt usage among Hoosiers has also increased, reaching 94.1% in 2025 according to the Annual Seat Belt Usage Survey conducted by Purdue University Center for Road Safety in partnership with ICJI. This rate is above the national average of 91.2% usage in 2024.

“Too often, we see tragedies that could have been prevented with one simple click of a seatbelt,” said Officer Jonathan Cruz. “Buckling up isn’t just the law. It’s a responsibility that helps ensure you make it home safely.”

Indiana law requires drivers and all passengers to buckle up. Children under age eight must be properly restrained in a federally approved child car seat or booster seat. Drivers can be cited for lack of seat belt use, but also for each unbuckled passenger under the age of 16.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to make sure children are in the right car seat and that it is used correctly and properly installed. Resources can be found at www.nhtsa.gov/TheRightSeat. To schedule an appointment with a certified car seat safety technician at one of Indiana’s 100 fitting stations, visit on.in.gov/SafeKids.

CHIRP is supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. For more information about ICJI’s traffic safety programs, visit www.in.gov/cji.

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Jonathan Cruz

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05/10/2026

05/04/2026

Happy “May the 4th” to all of the Star Wars fans out there! Enjoy your day!

04/17/2026

This incident underscores a critical concern: imitation water guns can easily be mistaken for real weapons by both the public and law enforcement. Such confusion can lead to:

* Escalated police response, including the use of force under the belief of a real threat
* Increased risk of injury or fatal outcomes for individuals involved
* Public panic and fear, especially in crowded or public spaces

Even when used in a game, the presence of a realistic-looking weapon can create a life-threatening situation within seconds.

Equally concerning is the strain placed on emergency response systems. During this incident:

* Multiple officers were diverted to respond to what was believed to be an active shooter situation
* At least three other emergency calls experienced delayed response times

When law enforcement resources are tied up responding to non-legitimate threats, the safety of the broader community is compromised. Real emergencies—such as medical crises, accidents, or violent crimes—may not receive the immediate attention they require.

While “senior assassin” is often viewed as a harmless tradition among graduating students, this event demonstrates how quickly it can escalate into a dangerous and criminal situation. Conducting such activities in public spaces, especially with realistic-looking objects, creates unnecessary risk for participants, bystanders, and first responders.

Authorities urge students, parents, and school officials to reconsider participation in games involving imitation weapons and to prioritize safety and awareness.

Public safety depends on responsible decision-making. What may seem like a game can have real-world consequences—including criminal charges, potential harm, and delayed emergency response for others in need.

For the safety of the entire community, individuals are strongly encouraged to avoid activities that could be mistaken for genuine threats.

Stay safe, Peru!

PORTAGE, Ind. — A Northwest Indiana high school student is facing a felony following a “senior assassin” game involving a water gun that appeared to look like a firearm. Adrian Williams…

03/27/2026

🚧 Road Closure Alert 🚧
Mexico Rd. has been closed since early this morning, from U.S. 24 to Ridgeview Dr. due to a fallen tree impacting the guy wires of a state-owned communication tower.

Crews are on site inspecting the structure for any damage. The road will remain closed until the State gives the all-clear.

⚠️ Please avoid this area and plan alternate routes.
🙏 Thank you for your patience — this closure is in place for everyone’s safety.

03/24/2026

Starting at 9am, all directions of US 24 and State Rd 19 (off of US 24) will be shut down from 9am-9:20 (max time) and again from 9:40-10:00am (max time) for repairs by Peru Utilties. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

03/17/2026

The Peru Police Department is asking for assistance in identifying the subjects in the photographs below. The subjects are wanted for questioning in an ongoing investigation. Anyone that is able to identify the subjects is requested to contact Detective Mitchell at [email protected] or 765-473-2150; ext. 102. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

03/17/2026

🍀Happy St. Patrick’s Day from the Peru Police Department 🍀

Today we’re keeping an extra eye out for leprechauns running loose, unregistered pots of gold (especially any reports of leprechauns hoarding gold), shamrocks multiplying without a permit, or rainbows parked in no-parking zones. 🌈🚔

In all seriousness, if you are celebrating today:
✅ Wear your green
✅ Have Fun
✅ Make Good Choices
✅ Please don’t drink & drive. We’d rather you celebrate the holiday responsibly than meeting us on a traffic stop.

Stay safe, Peru!

03/15/2026

The wind is causing the lights at many different intersections to either lose power or flash red.

As a reminder, these should be treated as a 4 way stop until they can be repaired. Officers, EMA and the traffic department are working together to try and maintain safety. Please drive responsibly. Thank you.

02/20/2026

Over the course of the last two days, members of the Peru Police Department had the privilege of attending a presentation by internationally renowned speaker, Paul Butler.

Paul had over 27 years of law enforcement experience to share along with valuable lessons to put to use not only in your professional life, but your personal life as well.

Anyone interested in building a great culture at your workplace should check Paul out at paul-butler.com. We would also like to thank our friends at for helping make the last two days possible.

02/17/2026

The Peru Police Department would like to extend our prayers and condolences to members of the Beech Grove Police Department as well as the family and friends of Officer Brian Elliot who was killed in the line of duty on February 16th, 2026.

Please keep Officer Elliot's family, friends and his department in your thoughts as they navigate through this difficult time. Thank you.

A message from Beech Grove Police Chief Michael Maurice:

"It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that today we lost one of our very own, Officer Brian Elliott. Officer Elliott, along with two other Beech Grove Police Department officers, was dispatched at 6:08 p.m. to the 100 block of Diplomat Court for a disturbance. After they arrived, Officer Elliott and another officer were shot. Both officers were rushed to Eskenazi Hospital, but despite the best lifesaving efforts by medical personnel, Officer Elliott succumbed to his injuries. The other officer, who we are not naming at this time, is currently in stable condition and is expected to survive.

My heart goes out to Brian’s wife, Erin, his parents, and all of his family, friends, and loved ones. At this time, I am asking that we lean on one another to get through this.

We are grateful to the team at Eskenazi Hospital, and our law enforcement and community partners for their extraordinary response and support."