KENDALLVILLE- On the evening of April 12, 2023, the Kendallville Police Department began receiving calls from local citizens reporting multiple gunshots near the Drake Terrace apartment complex in Kendallville, IN. The initial responding police officers were met with targeted high-power gunfire by a suspect having a tactical position of advantage from an elevated second-story apartment. This incident would trigger an all-out response from law enforcement patrol officers all across the northeast corner of Indiana, including multiple SWAT teams and tactical personnel trained and equipped to handle such incidents.
In its entirety, the violent stand-off would last nearly twelve hours before the suspect would be taken into custody. During the incident, hundreds of rifle rounds were indiscriminately fired by the suspect, continually exposing untold numbers of citizens and officers to a serious lethal threat. For many of the officers involved, this will go down in history as the most lethal critical incident of their careers. For those citizens who find themselves in harm’s way, it is possibly the most harrowing experience of their lives.
On Wednesday, April 17, 2024, the Indiana State Police held our Annual Awards Ceremony. During the ceremony, Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter recognized nine State Troopers whose distinguished actions of valor and personal bravery were pivotal and necessary in response to the suspect’s overwhelming violence of action.
Of the nine troopers recognized for their personal bravery and valor, two received the department’s highest award for Valor, the Gold Star Award (GSA); five were presented with the department’s second-highest award for Valor, the Silver Star Award (SSA); and all nine received the department’s Combat Action Award (CAA). (*Footnotes are included below for descriptions of awards.)
Master Trooper Christopher McCreery, Special Operations Division, North SWAT Team- Gold Star Award.
As the first arriving ISP SWAT officer on the scene, McCreery coordinated inbound SWAT officers…he evaluated and then deliberately used suppressing fire to slow the firing rate of the suspect. This was the first of several deliberate actions that resulted in immediate and direct gunfire from the suspect at Trooper McCreery. The tactical mindset and quick actions of McCreery allowed other officers an opportunity to move to cover and establish better positioning. His actions, while disregarding his own safety, undoubtedly saved the lives of others. Superintendent Carter noted that “Master Trooper McCreery’s actions involved self-initiative, extraordinary risk, and personal bravery beyond expectation.”
Master Trooper Steve Smeltzley, Special Operations Division, North SWAT Team- Gold Star Award. Trooper Smeltzley arrived on the scene…and immediately closed with and coordinated a triangulated position with McCreery. The initial position chosen to support McCreery’s efforts best was an open-air position with minimal cover, directly exposing Smeltzley to the suspect’s heavy gunfire. Smeltzley moved to a second open-air position with a better angle of fire, again receiving heavy direct gunfire. In this position, Smeltzley was able to identify the suspect location, return fire, and suppress the suspect, allowing other officers to move into tactical positions safely. Superintendent Carter noted that “Master Trooper Smeltzley’s actions involved self-initiative, extraordinary risk, and personal bravery beyond expectation.”
Trooper Blake Kugler, Fort Wayne Post- Silver Star Award. As one of the initial responding patrol officers, Kugler heard what he recognized to be the sound of a rifle being charged (loaded). Kugler quickly relayed that information to the other responding officers and immediately came under fire from the second-story apartment. Kugler returned fire in defense of himself and the other officers, which caused the suspect to retreat and allowed time for the officer to move to cover. Superintendent Carter noted that “Trooper Kugler’s actions involved personal bravery and self-sacrifice, his awareness and response saved lives.”
Master Trooper Andrew Cochran, Master Trooper Eric (Scott) Meyer, Master Trooper Bradley Theard, and Senior Trooper Justin Superczynski—Special Operations Division, North SWAT Team—Silver Star Awards.
Troopers Cochran, Meyer, Theard, and Superczynski all responded to the scene and engaged in a coordinated effort to identify the source of gunfire, expedited their movements toward the source of fire, and then returned fire to isolate the suspect effectively. Their actions exposed them to direct gunfire throughout the incident and subsequently allowed other team members windows of opportunity to engage the suspect. Superintendent Carter noted, “Their actions involved personal bravery and self-sacrifice beyond any reasonable expectation.”
Trooper Ryan Parent, Toll Road Post-Combat Action Award. During his response, putting himself at great risk, Trooper Parent positioned himself in a position to best access the suspect. He was subsequently fired upon and then returned fire in defense of himself, an action which caused the suspect to retreat and allowed SWAT members an opportunity to maneuver on the suspect.
Senior Trooper Andrew Barker, Bremen Post-Combat Action Award. Despite using all available resources, including drones and robots, officers were having difficulty pinpointing the suspect’s location within the apartment. The unorthodox tactic of using a “water cannon” to open up the apartment’s walls was conceived. Senior Trooper Barker, familiar with the operation of a “water cannon,” volunteered to undertake that operation and helped develop a plan moving forward. Due to the success of this tactic, the suspect was revealed inside the structure, and apprehension was subsequently felt a short time later.
In each individual award presented, Superintendent Carter noted that the actions and dedication to duty exhibited by all of these troopers was in keeping with the finest traditions of law enforcement and reflected great credit upon themselves and the Indiana State Police.
