Johnson County's Master Trooper Kelly Lazzell retires after 36 years

Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 6:57 PM

By Staff report

Although he has retired from ISP, he's not going far. He will continue his career in law enforcement as an Indiana State Police Motor Carrier Inspector.

A member of the Indiana State Police from Johnson County has retired after three-and-a-half decades of service.

Master Trooper Kelly Lazzell has retired from the Indiana State Police after serving for 36 years.

M/Tpr. Lazzell completed his final shift Sunday and turned in his equipment Wednesday. Although he has retired from ISP, he's not going far. He will continue his career in law enforcement as an Indiana State Police Motor Carrier Inspector at the Seymour scale-house. He will begin that job in January.

M/Tpr. Lazzell is a native of Franklin and a 1978 graduate of Franklin High School. When Kelly was 17 years old he was pulled over by Trooper J.D. Richards, and Kelly remembers from that very moment he wanted to become an Indiana State Trooper. Upon graduation from the Indiana State Police Academy, Kelly received Trooper Richards' same badge number and has worn the same badge for 36 years.

After high school Lazzell attended Indiana State University. He returned home in 1985 and was hired as a deputy for the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, he attended ILEA Basic Academy class 86-84. His goal was still to become an Indiana State Trooper, which he did in November, 1988. After ISP Academy graduation, Kelly was assigned to the Indianapolis District where he patrolled for 36 years, primarily working in Johnson County. During his career, M/Tpr. Lazzell is responsible for mentoring and training hundreds of troopers in different capacities. He has served as a firearms instructor for 21 years, he was a member of the Mobile Field Force, a field training officer, a commercial vehicle inspector and worked with the Franklin Schools on safety training.

M/Tpr. Lazzell is a beloved member of the Franklin Community and has served more than 39 years with integrity, professionalism and courtesy.

In 1985, Lazzell was hired by Johnson County Sheriff Bob Haugh, 39 years later he finishes his career with his squad sergeant being ISP Sgt. Jon Haugh, the grandson of Sheriff Bob Haugh.

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