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Last updated on Friday, December 14, 2018
(INDIANAPOLIS) - Four legislators were honored for their work in the General Assembly during the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys annual Awards Ceremony.
Two members of the Indiana House of Representatives and two members of the Indiana Senate were chosen by the IPAC Board of Directors due to their success with important legislation helping prosecutors and law enforcement officials.
Senators Eric Koch, R-Bedford and Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, were also recognized for their work in the Indiana
Senate. They were nominated by Washington County Prosecutor Dustin Houchin and Daviess County Prosecutor
Daniel Murrie, respectively. Koch was chosen both for his tireless work as a member of the Senate Criminal Code
Committee and his assistance on impaired driving legislation.
Thanks to his work, it is much easier to charge drug-impaired drivers and operating while intoxicated causing death. Houchin also praised Koch's work on crimes of violence with Rep. Sharon Negele and Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Patrick Harrington, ensuring violent offenders are held accountable.
Freeman was chosen for the legislative award thanks to his work on a number of important issues in the interest of public safety including harsher penalties for sex offenders and drug traffickers, as well as forfeiture reform. He also fought from the Senate floor to keep the Level 6 felony enhancement for theft with a prior conviction from being repealed.
"Senator Freeman is not afraid to stand in the gap when it's the right thing to do," Murrie said. "He is one of the strongest voices in the legislature for us."
Representatives Ben Smaltz, R-Auburn, and Sharon Negele, R-Attica were the winners from the Indiana House, nominated by Allen County Prosecutor Karen Richards and Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Patrick Harrington, respectively.
Smaltz was recognized for his work on the 2018 INSPECT legislation, dealing with the opioid crisis and past work in limiting access to pseudoephedrine.
Negele authored or sponsored several key bills for prosecutors during the session, including bills dealing with
crimes of violence, sex offenders and synthetic drugs. Harrington said she has been instrumental for prosecutors as
a member of the House Criminal Law Committee.
The awards were handed out on December 3, during IPAC's Winter Conference in Indianapolis.
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