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STATEHOUSE – The Indiana House of Representatives unanimously passed State Rep. Chris May’s (R-Bedford) resolution urging the Indiana Department of Transportation to rename a portion of State Road 56 near French Lick after fallen Chief of Police Vern Ervin.
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Ervin was killed on Sept. 10, 1972, after responding to a report of a man with a gun at a French Lick service station. He was survived by his wife, son, two daughters, three grandsons, and five siblings. The suspect was apprehended and later sentenced to life in prison, where he died from natural causes in 1981.
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“It’s my hope that renaming a portion of State Road 56 near French Lick would serve as a reminder of Chief Ervin’s sacrifice to his community, as well as the dedication that those in blue display every day to keep us safe,” May said. “By renaming part of this road in his honor, we could be sure that his legacy lives on in the community he helped protect.”
Ervin served with the French Lick Police Department for 16 years and with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for one year. He was also an Army veteran who served in World War II.
House Concurrent Resolution 8 has now moves to the Senate for further consideration. Once a renaming resolution passes through the Indiana General Assembly, the Indiana Department of Transportation can proceed with the project. Visit iga.in.gov for more information.
For more information about HCR 8, click here.