Local Trooper receives Meritorious
Service Award
.jpg) Pendleton
- Lt. Kevin Rees, Commander of the
Pendleton Post, announced that local
Indiana State Trooper Josh Watson
was presented a Meritorious Service
award Monday May 5 by State Police
Superintendent Dr. Paul Whitesell,
Ph.D. Trooper Watson patrols
Hamilton County in the Pendleton
District. He is a four year veteran
of the State Police and originally
is from Henry County. In addition to
Trooper Josh Watson, Master Trooper
William Lux, Troopers Joseph Neal,
Kurt Steinkamp, and Probationary
Trooper William Patterson also
received the Meritorious Service
Award for their actions on
Interstate 70 in the fall of 2007.
The citation as read by
Superintendent Dr. Paul Whitesell,
“It was October 4, 2007 that drew
these four state police officers
together as they responded to the
report of a suspect who had just
shot and killed his wife in front of
the couple’s four young children.
The shooting occurred outside the
lobby of a hotel near US 41 and
Interstate 70 from which the suspect
fled in a vehicle – reportedly with
all the children in the vehicle. The
suspect and his vehicle, with the
children aboard, were spotted on
Interstate 70 and a lengthy pursuit
ensued. The chase did not end until
the suspect had collided with a
police vehicle and struck stop
sticks. Police vehicles from several
agencies were then able to surround
the suspect who was now stopped on
I-70 in the Putnamville District.”
Now in a stand-off situation, with
young hostages, Master Trooper Lux
was able to engage the suspect in a
conversation and was able to secure
the release of all but one child.
The suspect held the one remaining
child with one arm around the child
as he clutched a pistol in the same
hand while also pointing the gun at
the child.
During this time the other troopers
worked to strategically position
themselves to react if there was an
opportunity to rescue the child.
Trooper Watson, a member of the
State Police Emergency Response
Team, positioned himself with his
rifle to maximize his ability to
take appropriate action if the
situation deteriorated.
The stand-off continued with Master
Trooper Lux trying to convince the
suspect to release the last child as
the suspect was making phone calls
to relatives threatening suicide.
During this time the suspect pointed
his pistol at Trooper Watson, at
which time Trooper Watson fired one
shot from his rifle that mortally
wounded the suspect. Immediately
after Trooper Watson shot the
suspect Trooper Neal was able to
grab the child and rush to a safe
area.
The actions of these officers, and
other assisting agencies, saved the
lives of innocent children who would
have likely been in grave danger had
the suspect not been located and
stopped before he could inflict more
harm than had already occurred.
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