COLUMBUS, Ind. — Nearly 50 residents gathered at Columbus City Hall on Friday to honor the officers from across the country who died in the line of duty in 2023.
The names of 137 law enforcement officers were read during the solemn memorial by Sgt. Julie Quesenbery of the Columbus Police Department and Sgt. Dane Duke of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.
Instead of separating into their own individual departments, the Columbus Police officers, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputies, Indiana State Police troopers and firefighters from both the city and Columbus Township intermingled with one another in two lines at the service.
Retired CPD officer and former Columbus Mayor Fred Armstrong nodded his head in approval.
“That’s the way it should be,” said Armstrong, who served nearly 21 years in law enforcement before being elected mayor for four consecutive terms from 1996 to 2011.
The mix of different uniforms was also appropriate for a message that Pastor Robert Vester, chaplain for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, delivered in his opening prayer.
“In these moments as we reflect, we give thanks to all of those who valiantly serve,” Vester prayed. “Regardless of the uniform that they wear – blue, brown, green – we are grateful that they offer themselves in service to their fellow man and their communities.”
For the complete story and more photos, pick up a Saturday Republic or visit therepublic.com for an updated story.
This story has been updated to correct the name of Pastor Robert Vester.
