INDIANAPOLIS — On Wednesday, Indiana State Police remembered those who lost their lives in the line of duty.
The annual memorial service was held at ISP's Indianapolis Post.
In total, 49 ISP employees have died in the line of duty since the force was founded 82 years ago.
However, this year there was one name that hit close to home—Trooper Aaron Smith.
Smith was killed last June in Indianapolis while deploying stop sticks in an attempt to stop a stolen car.
“This was the first year for Aaron Smith, who was killed June 28 of last year, so it’s pretty humbling today. I didn’t know what to expect but it’s pretty humbling,” said ISP Superintendent Doug Carter.
This was also the first year Carter read the names during the service.
“Every time I would turn the page there was a picture of the trooper that was killed or the employee that was killed and they are staring right at me. I’ve never experienced anything like that before. It felt like I was standing in the presence of the past for a long time,” Carter said.
A few weeks ago, Smith’s name was also added to the Eternal Flame Memorial at the Indianapolis Post.