GREENWOOD, Ind. — Family, friends, fellow law enforcement officers and the community came together Thursday to honor fallen Indiana State Police Trooper Aaron Smith.
They gathered at the Emmanuel Church in Greenwood for a visitation to pay their respects to a man that meant so much to so many people.
"We're going to miss him being around. His goofiness, his outgoing nature, he was never afraid to ask a question and he was always ... he would always be the brunt of the jokes," said ISP Trooper Josh Thayer, who was both a shift partner and classmate to Smith.
Smith also served with the Indiana National Guard since 2011, where he rose to the rank of sergeant. He currently served as a utilities equipment repairer for the 38th Infantry Division, 38th Sustainment Brigade, 190th Transportation Battalion and 1638th Transportation Company.
Smith also earned military awards, including the Army Achievement Award and National Defense Service Medal.
Sgt. Andrea Burkman recalled moments she shared with Smith in the National Guard.
"He was very unique. He was not like any other soldiers who also were police officers, law enforcement. He was very different, very positive and very refreshing," Burkman said.
Burkman talked about the conversations they had.
"He would talk about some of the things he did on the trooper side, and I always commended him saying, 'I don't have the patience to do what you do,'" Burkman said. "And he would always kindly remind me that we're all human, and everyone has a brother, a sister, a mom, a dad, and that these are people, too, and people make mistakes, but it doesn't define who you are by your mistakes. So that was the one thing that blew me away."
"I'm holding in there. That's about the only way I can really describe that," Indiana National Guard Staff Sgt. Anthony Roberts said.
On a day all about goodbyes, Roberts remembered when he first said hello to Smith, years earlier at a training course in Santa Fe for the Indiana Army National Guard.
"We went through the course together and would play euchre in the barracks at night. I didn't think I'd see him again, and then, I got promoted to his unit in 2018," Roberts said.
Roberts said he and Smith became good friends, often leaning on one another as they served their country.
“Me and him kind of became close friends, trying to run the section and making a really good team together,” Roberts said.
He remembers Smith as being helpful and kind, always pushing himself and others to do better.
“Caring. It didn’t matter whether the soldier came in was having issues in their personal life, he tried to make sure they smiled, and he would take time to stop. It didn’t matter if we were behind schedule, if he saw somebody on the side of the road, he’d stop and make sure they were taken care of," Roberts said. "He was one of those guys you just naturally drew yourself to."
Trooper Aaron Smith's car
After all these years of staying close, Roberts said it's hard to believe he's really gone.
"I mean, it’s one of those things you just work through your emotions, keep on going and try to be there for others," Roberts said.
Saying goodbye to his friend and fellow soldier is far from easy but so important for Roberts.
"It's the right thing to do. I wouldn't miss it for the world. He would be there for me in a heartbeat, so same thing with him," Roberts said.
Other law enforcement officers drove from far and wide, like Trooper George Edwards from Tallahassee, Florida.
"In situations like this, they are grieving with us. They are sacrificing their loved one, so it's important that we be here and show our support and care and love for them," Edwards said.
For so many who cared for and loved Smith, this day won't come easy.
"It wasn't a week-and-a-half ago we were shoulder-to-shoulder in a classroom in training," Thayer said. "It's a stark reminder of how important it is to tell someone you love them and you care about them and you're thankful for them. We're going to miss Aaron."