ELWOOD — Matthew Shahnavaz was sworn in tonight as a Reserve Police Officer with the Elwood Police Department (EPD).
Matthew is the father of fallen EPD Officer Noah Shahnavaz.
Noah was killed in the line of duty in 2022 when he was conducting a traffic stop.
According to court records, Noah transmitted over the radio that the driver of the vehicle he pulled over “had a gun.” It was his last radio transmission.
Noah was killed by the driver of the vehicle, Carl Roy Webb Boards II, who was arrested and has since been charged with numerous counts.
Boards fired at least 36 rounds and Noah never had a chance to unholster his own gun.
According to EPD, Matthew has been training all week at the department to complete his 40 hour Pre-Basic training course.
On Friday, Matt Shanavaz passed his final test with a 98% to officially become a member of the Elwood PD as a reserve officer.

“We are excited for him to help live out Noah’s legacy at our department,” EPD said in a Facebook post.
Matthew’s badge number is # 139 in honor of Noah.
PREVIOUS | Elwood police officer shot, killed; suspect in custody (wrtv.com) | Records show prior criminal convictions for suspect in Elwood officer's death (wrtv.com) | Accused cop killer fired 36 rounds; officer never unholstered gun, doc says (wrtv.com) | What we know about the man accused of killing Elwood Officer Noah Shahnavaz (wrtv.com) | Everything we know about fallen Officer Noah Shahnavaz (wrtv.com)
-
Indiana launches 'Smart SNAP' banning sugary drinks, candy from food benefits
Indiana will become one of the first states in the nation to restrict SNAP food stamp purchases of sugary drinks and candy when new rules take effect January 1, 2026.
Indiana migration balanced for second year in a row
For the second year in a row, the number of people moving into and out of Indiana is greater than the number of people leaving.
Future of I-65, I-70: INDOT concludes ProPEL Indy study
I-65 and I-70 are two of the main ways to get in and around the Indy metro. The city's transportation network is due for a major revamp in the coming years.
IMPD specialized teams recover nearly 2,000 guns in 2025
Newly released numbers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department highlight the significant impact of specialized teams working to reduce violent crime across the Circle City.