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Last updated on Wednesday, September 21, 2016
(BEDFORD) - A new limestone monument will be placed on the courthouse lawn to honor Lawrence County officers killed in the line of duty.
According to Lawrence County Chief Deputy Aaron Shoults the monument is designed by Kathy Baker-Heckard president of Indiana Cut Stone.
Indiana Cut Stone will construct the monument and then place it the southeast corner of the courthouse lawn near the war memorial.
Commissioner Chris May says the monument came to life through a combined effort of both the Stone City Fraternal Order Of Police Lodge 94, Spring Mill Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 172 and Indiana Cut Stone.
The Lawrence County History Museum also help be providing needed information on the officers that gave the ultimate sacrifice.
The monument will honor seven officers:
Bedford Deputy Marshal George Carney
Deputy Marshal George Carney was shot and killed on january 19, 1875 when he interrupted a burglary at a local drug store at approximately 9 p.m.
As he approached the store he was shot by one of the two men who were burglarizing the store. Both men escaped but were arrested in Olney, Illinois, several days later. One of the two men exchanged shorts with the Olney marshal during the arrest.
Both men were sentenced to life in prison.
Oolitic Deputy Marshal Pinkney Freeman Bough
Deputy Marshal Pinkney Bough was shot and killed while attempting to arrest two subjects on September 23, 1922.
Deputy Marshal Bough had asked the subjects to move their illegally parked car.
When they refused, Deputy Marshal Bough told them if they did not move their car they would be arrested. When the subjects still refused, Deputy Marshal Bough attempted to arrest them.
One suspect drew a gun and shot and killed Deputy Marshal Bough.
Both suspects were arrested the next day.
Mitchell Police Officer William Henry Sutherlin
Policeman William Sutherlin, 61, was shot and killed March 7, 1923 while attempting to arrest a man who had shot out a street light at the intersection of Sixth and Warren streets.
The man was in a group of males who were acting disorderly at about 9:30 pm. Policeman Sutherlin and another officer responded to the gunfire and began chasing the subjects who were dispersing. When the man who had shot out the street light was being arrested, he fatally shot Policeman Sutherlin in the heart.
The 20-year-old suspect was arrested by the other officer and charged with murder.
Policeman Sutherlin was survived by his wife, five sons and five daughters.
Mitchell Police Chief Of Police George William Bush
Chief George Bush, 36, was killed in an automobile accident while returning from an investigation near Orleans in Orange County.
Shortly after 1 a.m. on October 14, 1935, Chief Bush was traveling northbound on State Road 37, just south of the Lawrence and Orange county line, when his vehicle left the roadway and sheared off a telephone pole. A passing motorist was able to summon local citizens to extricate Chief Bush who was pinned beneath the vehicle. Despite their efforts, which took over 45 minutes, Chief Bush died of a fractured skull and a broken neck. It was believed a blown right rear tire on his vehicle was the cause of the accident.
Chief Bush had served with the Mitchell Police Department as its chief for two years. He was survived by his wife, son, three daughters and father.
Mitchell Police Officer George E. Stillman
Officer George Stillman succumbed to a gunshot wound he suffered on Sept. 1, 1965 when he responded to a domestic disturbance. He died six days later.
After his arrival, Officer Stillman was shot in the stomach with a shotgun by a suspect who had already killed his wife as well as having shot at his step-daughter and a vehicle of small children. The suspect was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Indiana State Trooper Robert Gillespie
Trooper Robert Gillespie was killed in a traffic accident while rushing to a call for assistance near Mitchell in Lawrence County.
On Friday, June 8, 1962, while traveling with his emergency lights on, Trooper Gillespie was forced to leave the road when a pickup truck slowed in front of him. Leaving the highway to avoid the truck, Trooper Gillespie swerved back on the highway to avoid another car in his path. A third car then struck his vehicle.
Trooper Gillespie, 33, had served with the Indiana State Police for nearly 12 years and was assigned to the Seymour post. He was a US Navy veteran serving in the Shore Patrol. Trooper Gillespie was survived by his wife and six children. In 1959, he was awarded the agency's Gold Star Award for Valor when, in spite of gunshot wounds, he continued to pursue a couple who had fired at him.
Indiana Department Of Natural Resources First Sergeant Karl Eugene Kelley
First Sergeant Karl Kelley, 56, died from injuries suffered during a training exercise on the East Fork of the White River at the Williams Dam in Lawrence County.
On April 16, 1998, a boat containing two other conservation officers had overturned in turbulent waters and when First Sergeant Kelley and another conservation officer attempted a rescue, their boat capsized as well. First Sergeant Kelley was rescued after being submerged for 15 minutes and survived for 24 hours before succumbing to his injuries at University of Louisville Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky.
First Sergeant Kelley had served with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for 28 years. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, son, two stepsons, parents, brother, sister, four grandchildren and two stepgrandchildren.
Once the monument is completed Tri-County will place the monument on the courthouse lawn. There will be a dedication ceremony in May.
"Some businesses are helping with the cost of construction and placement of the monument," says Chief Deputy Shoults.
Others wanting to learn more about the monument or would like to donate can email Chief Deputy Shoults at ashoults@lawrencecounty.in.gov.
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