Trooper memorial: Remembering comrades

When Indiana State Trooper Brent Lykins was enrolled in the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield, he looked up to Lt. Gary Dudley as a mentor.

"He was like a dad to us," Lykins said of Dudley. "He knew my wife and my children by their first names, and one time he said to me, ‘Brent, you say hi to them and tell them you love them,' because you never know if you're going home at the end of the day."

That's why Lykins said he couldn't help but think of his family when he heard Dudley's name read Wednesday morning during the ISP's annual memorial service at the Seymour Post honoring troopers killed in the line of duty.

Dudley and retired Lake County sheriff Gary Martin were killed Aug. 22, 2006, while participating in a bicycle ride to honor fallen police officers.

A box truck struck the riders' support vehicle, shoving it into the group of cyclists. Dudley and Martin died at the scene of the crash on Indiana 63 in Vermillion County.

All of the Seymour post's active personnel as well as ISP retirees, officers from each police agency in the district, including Jackson, Jennings, and Bartholomew counties, family members and members of the public attended Wednesday's service.

"We are assembled here this day to honor our departed comrades, to perpetuate the memory of our dead and to reverently commemorate the service of those who have given their lives in the performance of their duties," Capt. Jimmie Durnil, Area 4 commander, said.

"These are our fellow employees who have given their lives in service of the department," he added. "When they departed this life that we still enjoy, they left but memories of warm friendship, loyalty and devotion to this service."

After Wednesday's ceremony Lykins hugged his wife, Alison, and held his children, 4-year-old Noah and 3-year-old Grace.

"It's an honor just to be here to show my respect for them," he said of fallen fellow comrades.

Forty-five ISP officers have died in the line of duty since the department was created in 1933.

"These men and women we are here to honor today developed the history we are proud of," Lt. Mark Davis said.

Four were from the Seymour Post:

-- Trooper George A. Forster died in 1941 when his patrol car was struck by a truck towing a horse trailer on Indiana 3.

-- Trooper Earl L. Brown died in 1955 during a manhunt. He was shot and killed by a hitchhiker on U.S. 31 near Columbus.

-- Trooper Robert Gillespie died in 1962 when his vehicle was struck by another car while he was en route to Mitchell in response to a request for assistance.

-- And Trooper William F. Kieser died in 1965 when he was shot and killed by a drunken and disorderly suspect in Ramsey.

During the ceremony a wreath was placed next to the post's front-lawn memorial, which lists the 45 names.

"The greatest tribute in our power is to pay our departed comrades the reverent acknowledgement of our obligation to remember them," Durnil said. "It has been said that the strength of the Indiana State Police department lies in the character of its men and women."

After the roll call was read, Trinity Lutheran High School students Ryan Schneider and Felicia Rieckers played "Taps" from atop the post.

"Whenever they start to play the trumpets, I think of how grateful I am for my family," Lykins said.

In this case, he meant both his family at home and his ISP family.

New to the post, Trooper Rachel Eickholtz said she also felt honored to attend the service.

"This is the first one I've been to," she said of the ceremony. "It's an honor to be a part of it all. There is a great sense of pride in remembering those who gave their lives to serve and protect."

Hearing the names of her fallen comrades, Eickholtz said it was hard not to think of the dangers she faces in her job.