Officer ID'd in fatal Hobson Rd. shooting

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – The Fort Wayne Police Department has identified the officer involved in a fatal shooting at the Baldwin Creek Apartments early Wednesday morning.

Police say Officer Jeffery Burkholder Sr. shot and killed Stephen O’Neal Wattley, II when he turned a semi-automatic gun on Burkholder.

Burkholder was hired with the Fort Wayne Police Department on September 25, 1981.  To date Officer Burkholder has six disciplinary actions against him.

• In 1983, Burkholder was suspended for being in a police vehicle accident.
• In 1987, he was suspended again for going A.W.O.L.
• In 2005, he received a letter of reprimand for being involved in a police vehicle accident.
• In 2010, Officer Burkholder once again was suspended for going A.W.O.L.
• In 2011, Burkholder received another letter of reprimand for a police vehicle accident.
• In 2012, the officer was once again suspended for his involvement in a police vehicle accident.

Officer Burkholder has also received a commendation in 1990 for Meritorious Service Citation.

The officer remains on administrative leave while police continue to investigate the shooting.