The Indiana State Police Post at Putnamville held their annual memorial service Wednesday to honor those members of the department who gave their lives in the line of duty.
Troopers were brought to attention and prepared for roll call by Putnamville District First Sergeant Matt Mischler. Opening prayer was given by Indiana State Police Chaplain Dick Smith. Members of the Putnamville District Honor Guard then displayed the national and state flags as Captain Tony Delello, Area V Commander, and Lieutenant David Cox, Commander of the Putnamville District, read each fallen member’s name, along with a description of the circumstances surrounding their death. The closing benediction was given by Indiana State Police Chaplain Christopher Gadlage.
Members of the Honor Guard were Senior Trooper Charles Murphy, Senior Trooper Brian Thomas, Trooper Cameron Bottema, and Sergeant Phil Cooley. Veteran Honor Guard member Trooper Austin Fowler coordinated the unit for today’s service.
Members of the Firing Party were Sergeant Dustin Zehnder, Trooper Tanner Hurley, Trooper Farias Brandon, Trooper Kyle Taylor, Trooper Sam Gillespie, Trooper Steven Peyton, Trooper Tyler Line and Master Trooper Chris McCawley (OIC).
Taps was played by Trooper Athan Lamson.
A total of 44 sworn officers and 3 civilian members of the Indiana State Police, both men and women, have died in the line of duty since the department’s inception in 1933.
Since the early days of the Indiana State Police, memorial services have been held each May at all Indiana State Police districts to perpetuate the memory of those who have died in the line of duty. The service serves as a means of paying tribute to those who died in the line of duty, that their sacrifice was not made in vain, and as a reminder to those of us left behind that we should strive to maintain the level of professional service to the public our departed comrades so unselfishly gave their lives for. The first ever memorial service was held on Memorial Day of 1943 at the former Ligonier Post in northern Indiana.
