Shelby County 's Jason Beal remembered as 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”.

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 the month of 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.

The service started with troopers standing at attention as Indiana State Police Area II Captain Chad Larsh read the names of the fallen employees. Lieutenant Tony Slocum, District 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. One hailed from Shelby County.

Trooper Jason E. Beal died on January 15, 2000, in southeastern Kosciusko County while assisting a tow truck operator that 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 the Trooper Beal.  He died from his injuries three days later.

Trooper Beal died on January 15, 2000. It was three days after being struck by a vehicle while assisting a tow truck driver who was removing a vehicle from a ditch on State Road 14 west of County Road 700 East in Kosciusko County.    As a westbound vehicle entered the area and attempted to slow down, the 22-year-old female driver lost control of the vehicle in the icy conditions. Her vehicle struck the tow truck and then Trooper Beal, causing severe internal injuries.    He was transported to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne where he remained for three days and passed away after being taken off life support, one day before his 25th birthday.    

Trooper Beal, from Shelbyville, was assigned to the Bremen post. He had previously served as a jailer for the Shelby County Sheriff's Department and as a reserve police officer for the Shelbyville Police Department.

Trooper Beal was survived by his wife, a son who was born five months after his death, parents, two brothers and three sisters.    

Trooper Beal was the third of three troopers within 11 months to be killed in the line of duty from the 56th ISP Recruit Academy, which graduated in December 1998. Trooper Richard Gaston and Trooper Cory Elson, who had been roommates, were killed in the line of duty on March 4 and April 3, 1999, respectively.