Fallen police officers from Hamilton and Boone counties were honored during the 32nd Annual Hamilton County Law Enforcement Memorial Service at Carmel Civic Square on May 2.
“It’s grown over the years. It was just the Carmel Police Dept., and then county, and then we had federal representatives here from the specialized police forces. It’s almost become a regional ceremony,” Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard said.
The event, which was open to the public, included a speech from keynote speaker Spencer Moore. Moore’s son, David Moore, died in the line of duty in January 2011.
“We can’t forget our survivors, and we can’t forget our heroes. They come together, because one is the loved one of the other. We owe them. We honor them,” Moore said. “Truthfully, the best honor is like Sen. (Dan) Coats said, and like I underscored, is the remembering of them. As long as we remember them, they’ll never be forgotten, and their death will never been in vain.”
Participants in this year’s memorial included Carmel Police Chief Tim Green, Noblesville Police Chief Kevin Jowitt, Westfield Police Chief Joel Rush and Lt. John Smithers of the Indiana State Police.
Elementary school choirs from College Wood, Mohawk Trails and Towne Meadow opened the ceremony and the Indianapolis 500 Gordon Pipers performed before the three-volley salute. Solo performances featured Jennifer Nicholson of Noblesville and Brian Phillips from the LaPorte Police Dept. The event also included Amy Groswald and Alex Shanafelt, trumpetists and Carmel High School students.
