Putnamville ISP Post conducts annual memorial service
PUTNAMVILLE — The Indiana State Police Post at Putnamville conducted its annual memorial service Friday 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 Sgt. Matt Mischler. Opening prayer was given by Indiana State Police Chaplain John Lefler.
Members of the Putnamville District Honor Guard then displayed the national and state flags as Capt. Tony Dello 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, bagpipe soloists, retired ISP Lt. Rick Hammer, played “Amazing Grace.” The ceremony concluded with the playing of “Taps” by Cloverdale High School student Eric Stattner and Jeremiah Poole of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. The closing benediction was given by Indiana State Police Chaplain John Lefler.
Members of the Honor Guard were Troopers James Crisp, Brian Thomas, Austin Fowler, Joseph Malone and Nichols Cox. Veteran Honor Guard member Senior Trooper Chuck Murphy coordinated the unit for Friday’s service.
Members of the 21-Gun Salute Live Firing Team were Master Trooper Chris McCawley, Master Trooper Kevin Getz, Sgt. Matt Marshall, Senior Trooper Nate Adams, Trooper Robert Hutson, Master Trooper Ross Johnson, Trooper Jordan Lee and Trooper Steven Peyton.
A total of 46 members of the Indiana State Police, both men and women, have died in the line 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 1943 at the former Ligonier Post in northern Indiana.
For a complete listing of Indiana troopers killed in the line of duty and a summary of their deaths, visit the Indiana State Police website at www.in.gov/isp and click on the “In Memoriam” link on the left side of the page.