Standing outside Shelbyville's Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 84 still evokes painful memories for Tara Griffith.
Jay Griffith’s funeral was held there nearly two years ago. That day still lingers in her mind. But after helping organize the 2023 Fallen Officer Memorial Ride, Griffith was back on site Saturday morning to support a community that embraced her when she needed it the most.
“I just think it’s important to remember,” said Griffith. “(Jay) didn’t die in the line of duty but just keeping their memory alive is important for us to see how much the community is invested in our local law enforcement.
“I think we are very lucky here unlike some other communities. Shelbyville cares about the officers so it’s nice to see all these people come out and show their support.”
Jay Griffith was a 2003 Morristown High School graduate who joined the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department in 2013. He died on Sept. 7, 2022, in a motorcycle accident in Shelbyville. Jay and Tara Griffith had been married for 10 years.
Tara Griffith (photo, third from left) has rode in past memorial rides but now takes pleasure in supporting the management of such a special event.
“Last year I just helped organize it but I wasn’t able to be here,” she said. “Things aren’t so raw this year. It’s still hard for me to be at the FOP at all because this is where his funeral was. That is something I am still getting over.”
Saturday marked the 15th anniversary of the Fallen Officer Memorial Ride. This year’s ride started at the FOP lodge in Shelbyville then headed south to Madison and included a return stop at the Jennings County Sheriff’s Office in North Vernon before returning home for a catered lunch at the local FOP lodge located at 1237 N. Knightstown Road.
The fully-escorted memorial ride serves as a fundraiser for local scholarships, the maintenance of the memorial park at the FOP lodge (photo) and funding to send families of fallen officers to Washington D.C. for National Police Week.
Griffith can attest firsthand to the caring nature of everyone involved in local law enforcement.
“People say the world is going to crap but there is no way that’s true,” she explained. “People I didn’t even know just stopped by my house and brought mums or money. People I didn’t know just knocked on the door.
“The FOP auxiliary set up the whole funeral. Nobody asked me to do anything. They just did it. People were just amazing. I had so much support everywhere I went.”
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