Putnamville service honors fallen ISP troopers

PUTNAMVILLE -- The Indiana State Police Post at Putnamville conducted its annual memorial service Wednesday to honor those members of the department who have given their lives in the line of duty.

A total of 46 members of the State Police, both men and women, have died in the line duty since the department's inception in 1933.

Troopers were brought to attention and prepared for roll call by Putnamville District Assistant Commander 1st Sgt. Matt Mischler. Opening prayer was given by Indiana State Police Chaplain Daniel Coffey.

Members of the Putnamville District Honor Guard then displayed the national and state flags as Capt. Bob Burke, Area V commander, and Lt. Dan Jones, commander of the Putnamville District, read each fallen member's name, along with a description of the circumstances surrounding their death.

After reading the names of the fallen officers, bagpipes soloist, ISP Lt. Rick Hammer of the Laboratory Division, played "Amazing Grace." The ceremony concluded with the playing of "Taps" by Trooper Ian Portteus, assigned to the Putnamville Post, and the closing benediction given by ISP Chaplain Coffey.

Members of the Putnamville Honor Guard were Sgt. Jason Miller and Troopers David Petrowski, James Crisp, Chuck Murphy and Shayne Roman.

Other attendees included Col. Mark French, the assistant superintendent of ISP, and other members of the ISP primary staff, retirees and family and friends of ISP personnel.

Two of the retirees in attendance were Putnam Superior Court Judge Denny Bridges, who was with the Indiana State Police from December 1979 until January 2006, and Putnam County Sheriff Scott Stockton, who was with the Indiana State Police from November 1986 until December of 2014.

A pitch-in meal was provided to all attendees with assistance from the Indiana State Police Alliance.

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 annual memorial 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 left behind that they should strive to maintain the level of professional service to the public for which departed comrades so unselfishly gave their lives.

The first-ever memorial service was conducted on Memorial Day 1943 at the former Ligonier Post in northern Indiana.