In the span of eight days, the state of Indiana lost three law enforcement officer in the line of duty.
Tipton County Deputy Jacob Calvin was killed in a single vehicle crash on June 28, Indianapolis Officer Perry Renn was killed during a shootout with a suspect on July 5 and Gary Police Officer Jeffrey Westerfield was killed during an ambush while he sat in his cruiser on July 6.
In response to the tragedies, Indianapolis Police Officer Jeff Webb wrote a poem lamenting the loss of his comrades as departments across the state come to grips with the tragic loss of all three men.
Below is the poem in its entirety:
The Black Band
I’m sick of putting this band on my badge,
Of seeing another brother fall.
Of seeing another sister laid out
Upon an alter before us all.
Of seeing another family sit,
While they receive a folded flag.
And know of the crushing loss they feel,
As you can see their shoulders sag.
Then I remember what this band means,
Recalling the fallen who’ve gone before.
Who gave everything they had,
To honor the badges that they wore.
By protecting the public from evil that lurks,
In the dark recesses of society’s mind,
By being the last bastion of defense.
By being the honored thin blue line.
Officer Jeffrey P. Webb
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
July 7th, 2014
