10 Putnamville Post troopers honored with ISP awards

Indiana State Police personnel from the Putnamville Post receiving Commendation Awards at an Oct. 7 awards ceremony at Indianapolis are (from left) First Sgt. Tom Hannon, Trooper David Petrowski, Trooper Michael Taylor, Sgt. Joe Rutledge, Trooper Brent Robinson, Lt. Dan Jones and Trooper Todd Brown. Not pictured are Lt. Marcus Tow and Trooper Tyler Van Ness.

Courtesy photo

PUTNAMVILLE -- Ten troopers who reside within the Putnamville District were among those recognized when the Indiana State Police conducted an awards ceremony for department personnel recently at the Indiana Government Center in Indianapolis.

Those from the Putnamville Post receiving Commendation Awards were: Lt. Dan Jones, First Sgt. Tom Hannon, Sgt. Joe Rutledge and Troopers Todd Brown, David Petrowski, Michael Taylor, Brent Robinson, Marcus Tow and Tyler Van Ness.

The awards were the result of their July 13, 2013 actions when the officers responded to a domestic violence call in Clay County reporting a male holding a female against her will.

Through a window of the residence, troopers could see the female victim was being physically restrained and appeared to have been battered.

After a few moments of attempted negotiations with the suspect, it became clear to the officers that the male was becoming increasingly agitated and the danger to the victim was most likely going to increase.

The troopers devised a plan to forcefully enter the residence at two access points and upon doing so, the male made an aggressive movement toward the female.

Troopers utilized a taser (electronic control device) to subdue the suspect, where he was taken into custody and incarcerated in the Clay County Justice Center.

The female sustained no further injuries and was medically treated and released.

Meanwhile, for his actions last March 31, Lt. Mark Tow received the ISP Combat Action Award for his courageous “at risk” performance of duty to include the use of and/or defense against life-threatening physical force.

It was Tow’s fifth such award. Lt. Tow and other members of the ISP Central SWAT Team were assisting the Speedway Police Department with a barricaded man inside a van.

After several attempts at a peaceful resolution, the male brandished a shotgun out of the sliding door of the van requiring officers to demand several times, the suspect put down the weapon.

The male refused and lowered the weapon in the direction of the officers, causing officers to engage several rounds with the suspect.

The suspect was struck and immediately treated at the scene with measures that ultimately saved his life.

“The troopers actions and dedication to duty are in keeping with the finest traditions of law enforcement and reflect great credit upon themselves and the Indiana State Police,” ISP Supt. Douglas G. Carter commended.