Indiana State Police Bremen Post holds annual Memorial Service

An inscription on the memorial stone in front of the Indiana State Police Bremen Post reads, “We Will Remember Them”. On Friday that promise was kept when local law enforcement officers, retired state police employees, local government officials, and family members of the fallen joined employees from the Indiana State Police Bremen Post as they paid tribute to the 49 Indiana State Police employees who have died in the line of duty since the department’s inception in 1933.

Since the early days of the Indiana State Police, memorial services have been held at each Indiana State Police Post during May. The memorial services are a way of paying tribute and remembering the ultimate sacrifice paid by state police employees who died while serving and protecting the citizens and visitors of Indiana. The services are also for the family members of the fallen heroes. The memorial services let the families of the fallen know that the sacrifice made by them, and their departed loved ones, will never be forgotten.

Friday’s service started with troopers standing at attention as Indiana State Police Area II Captain Chad Larsh read the names of the fallen employees. First Sergeant Tony Slocum, assistant commander of the Indiana State Police Bremen Post, provided a brief description of what led to the fallen employees’ final call. The solemn ceremony ended with the playing of Taps by a bugler.

Two Indiana State Troopers from the Bremen Post have died in the line of duty:
 

Master Motor Carrier Inspector Ralph R. Reed Jr. died on August 3, 1995, while working along U.S. 30 in Marshall County.  While completing an inspection on a semi driver, Master Motor Carrier Inspector Reed walked around the tractor-trailer and was struck and killed by an oncoming semi.

Trooper Jason E. Beal died on January 15, 2000, in southeastern Kosciusko County while assisting a tow truck operator who was pulling a car out of a ditch on State Road 14.  As the two men worked, the driver of a passing car lost control of her car on the icy roadway, striking the tow truck and Trooper Beal.  He died from his injuries three days later.

 For a complete listing of Indiana State Police employees who died in the line of duty, visit the Indiana State Police website at IndianaTrooper.com