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IMPD recognizes officers for bravery, commitment to duty

The Indianapolis Metro Police Department is recognizing dozens of officers for their bravery and commitment to protecting the community.
IMPD-Honors

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WTHR) - The Indianapolis Metro Police Department is recognizing dozens of officers for their bravery and commitment to protecting the community.

Chief Troy Riggs said he's honored to wear the same uniform as those recognized at this year's IMPD Honor Awards Ceremony.

"People ask me all the time, are your officers afraid? No. Are they concerned? Yes. Is sick time up? No. They're showing up each and every day because they're committed to you, the citizenry."

Those honored include four officers who played a major role in solving the Amanda Blackburn case. Detective Thomas Lehn was the lead investigator in the murder of the pregnant wife of an Indianapolis pastor. He received the Medal of Merit for working around the clock to track down the people responsible.

The department also presented Detective Dan Kepler and Sergeant Mark Wells with Certificates of Commendation for their work on the case.

And Deputy U.S. Marshal Jeremy Clinton earned the Certificate of Appreciation.

Prosecutors say three men broke into the Blackburns' northwest side home last November -- and killed the 28-year-old pregnant mother.

Their toddler was also in the home, but was not harmed.

The following list includes all who were honored:

Certificate of Appreciation
Derrick Smith
John Freije
Kaylee Pearson
Marshawn Jones
Melissa Hoffmeister
Jack Rinehart
Brian Sanders
David Perkins Jr.
Rod Perkins
Matt Perkins
Feisal Gonzalez
Bryan Briggs
Don Matthews
U.S. Marshal Jeremy Clinton

Certificate of Outstanding Performance
Paula Barnes
Stacey Krom

Certificate of Commendation
Officer George June II
Officer Thomas McGraw
Officer Dustin Keedy
Officer Chad Gibson
Officer William Amberger
Officer Christopher Cooper
Officer Ronald Rehmel
Sergeant Christian Nielsen
Officer Kristofer Kunz
Officer Emanuel Toliver
Officer Aaron Helton
Sergeant Jon Daggy
Officer Gabriel Cuevas
Officer Brian Durham
Officer Peter Fekkes, II
Officer Laura Spicer
Officer Robert Chappell
Officer Julian Wilkerson
Sergeant James Martin
Officer Brady Ball
Officer Yolanda Burns
Officer Michael McWhorter
Officer Eric Amos
Officer Sean Baukat
Officer Damon Young
Officer Francisco Olmos
Officer Charles Pearsey
Officer Robert Pyatskowit
Officer Brad Alford
Officer Jeffrey Krider
Officer Daniel Huber
Officer Clayton Portell
Officer Tracy Knecht
Officer Kelly Jessup
Officer Christopher Marcum
Sergeant Steve Staletovich
Officer Anthony Carter
Officer Evans Davis
Officer Albert Teaters
Officer Dwayne May
Officer Pablo Navarrete
Officer Carlos Pettiford Jr.
Officer Brian Ramey
Officer Javed Richards
Sergeant Steven Rivers
Officer Philip Short
Officer Zachary Taylor
Officer Justin Toussing
Officer Aaron Trotter
Officer Robert Chamberlain
Officer Andrew Puente
Officer Katie Gourley
Officer Timothy Elliott
Officer Dane Elkins
Officer Jordon Bull
Officer Dean Roberts
Officer Damon Young
Officer Joshua Murphy
Officer Daniel Disney II
Officer Amanda Shafer
Officer Andrew Lamle
Officer Earl Graybeal
Officer Sergio DeLeon Rodriguez
Officer Ivan Ivanov
Officer David Loyal
Officer John Archer
Officer Scott Baker
Officer Joseph Taylor
Officer Justin Baker
Officer Derek Jackson
Officer Christopher Phemster
Sergeant Stephen Fippen
Detective Steven Gray
Sergeant Judy Phillips
Officer Todd Hammons
Officer Scott Hartman
Officer Babacar Diouf
Officer Jeffrey Lawson
Officer Scott Strietelmeier
Detective Nathan Schmidt
Officer Cristopher Bennett
Officer Joseph Doucleff
Officer Daniel Majors
Officer Stacy Riojas
Officer Calvin Tipton
Detective Dan Kepler
Sergeant Mark Hess
Sergeant Todd Wells
Lieutenant Bradley McFerran

Unit Citation
Robbery Coordination Unit
Sergeant Leo George
Sergeant Jon Haynes
Detective Rob Challis
Detective Dan Cherry
Detective Jeremy Ingram

Southwest District Flex Unit
Sergeant James Fiscus
Officer Dustin Carmack
Officer Clayton Portell
Officer Christopher Houdashelt
Officer Lona Douglas

Northwest District Suspect Tracking Unit
Officer Robert Wendling
Officer Jason Zotz
Officer James Briggs

Computer & Digital Forensic
Detective Matt Shores
Detective Brett Seach
Detective Mark Barnett
Detective Jim Wailes
Detective Grant Melton
Detective Kurt Spivey
Detective Laura Smith
Detective Darin Odier
Detective Danny Reynolds
Sergeant Linda Jackson
Sergeant Steven Schafer

Medal of Merit
Sergeant Mark Prater
Detective Charles Gold
Sergeant Joseph Humkey
Detective Thomas Lehn
Detective Daniel Kepler
Detective Ryan Clark
Officer David Spurgeon
Officer David Labanauskas
Officer Javed Richards

Meal of Bravery
Officer Branden Hiatt
Officer Kevin Hershberger
Officer David Pankoke
Officer John Cohan
Officer Robert McNeil
Officer Joshua Murphy
Officer Nathan Challis
Office Chad Dailey
Officer Gregory Popcheff
Officer Roman Williams-Ervin
Officer Stacy Riojas
Officer Joshua Taylor

Medal of Valor
Officer Garland Cooper
Officer Dominic Smith
Officer Brett Lorah
Officer Christopher Maher
Officer William Hornaday
Lieutenant Robert Stradling
Sergeant Charles Deblaso
Officer Justin Reese
Officer William Wogan
Officer David Hutson
Officer Desmond Woods
Officer William Amberger
Officer Gregory Davis
Officer Jai’Dion Broader
Officer Eric Snowden
Officer Kevin Larussa, II
Officer Shawn Holmes
Officer Charles King
Officer Austin Black
Officer Steve Hayes
Sergeant Stephen Davis
Officer Jason Ehret
Officer Christopher Baker
Officer Matthew Cook

Purple Heart
Officer Mark Reynolds
Officer Matthew Earley
Officer Matthew Cook
Officer Donald Neal
Officer Henry Nunez


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