KPD honors fallen officers

Four remembered at law enforcement memorial event

The Kokomo Police Department held its annual memorial service on May 18 in honor of local officers who have fallen in the line of duty. Representatives from the Howard County Sheriff’s Department and Kokomo Fire Department also were in attendance, along with several employees of various city departments.

Current and former members of the Kokomo Police Department gather in front of City Hall to honor fallen officers.

Kokomo Police Chief Doug Stout opened the ceremony with a welcome before Major Brian Seldon recounted the four officers from Howard County who have died while serving.

Kokomo Police Officer Thomas W. Lannon was shot to death on Aug. 22, 1877, by a man whom he had arrested previously for visiting a house of ill repute. He was shot in the back while patrolling the train depot on North Buckeye Street.

Kokomo Police Officer George Berryman was shot to death on Nov. 26, 1953, while responding to a report of a domestic disturbance. He was shot through the front door as he stood on the porch of the house from which the complaint arose.

KPD Major Brian Seldon reads off the names of the four local officers who have died in the line of duty, along with the circumstances of their deaths.

Seldon also recognized the passing of Howard County Sheriff’s Deputy Carl Koontz, who died in 2016 by being shot during the service of a warrant in western Howard County, and Indiana State Police Trooper Peter Stephan, who died in 2019 in a single-vehicle crash while responding to assist a fellow trooper who was holding suspects at gunpoint.

Officers laid white carnations on a black-clad table at the front of the city council chambers before stepping outside for the lowering of the flag to half-staff. Hope Oaks played “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes while the attendees stood at attention. Seldon closed the ceremony with the playing of “Taps.”

Visit the Kokomo Lantern’s Facebook page for videos of the ceremony.