Officers were recognized for their dedication, service, bravery, devotion to the department and the citizens of Indiana. Five troopers from the Toll Road Post were honored for their efforts in serving the citizens of Indiana.
The 2019 Trooper of the District Award for the Toll Road Post was presented to Trooper Aaron Price. This award is given annually to a trooper at each district that personifies integrity, professionalism, and a well-rounded work ethic. Price was selected by his command staff for his dedication, traffic and criminal enforcement, community involvement, and other services performed for the department beyond normal expectations. During 2019 Price made 149 arrests of which 50 were felony arrests. Price also documented over 700 police services where he assisted motorists traveling the Indiana Toll Road. Price is a 4- year veteran of the Indiana State Police and now patrols Marshall County since transferring to the Bremen Post.
Trooper Benjamin Beers received the District DUI Award for the Indiana State Police Toll Road Post. The District DUI Award is presented to the top trooper in each district for outstanding efforts in removing intoxicated drivers from Indiana’s roadways. Beers’ efforts removed 76 intoxicated drivers from Indiana’s roads. Beers is a 3-year veteran of the Indiana State Police and patrols the Indiana Toll Road in St. Joseph, LaPorte, and Porter County.
Trooper Jacob Bill received a Gold Star Award for distinguished service for his efforts in saving a child that had fallen through thin ice in a retention pond in Kosciusko County on the evening of November 15, 2019. Bill responded to this call and entered the freezing water and was able to safely get the child to safety. Two officers from the Winona Lake Police Department, Sgt. Joe Bumbaugh and Officer David Swain, also received Lifesaving Awards for their actions in this incident. Bill is a 2-year veteran of the Indiana State Police.
Trooper Logan Hensley received a Lifesaving Award for his actions taken at a car crash on the Indiana Toll Road in Lake County on November 1, 2019. Hensley arrived at the crash and learned that the driver of one of the vehicles was pinned in the vehicle and bleeding badly. Hensley climbed in the overturned vehicle and saw the driver hanging in the air by a pinned leg that was bleeding heavily. Recognizing that the driver’s life was in danger due to blood loss, Hensley was able to apply a tourniquet that stopped the bleeding. Hensley is a 2-year veteran of the Indiana State Police.
Sgt. Daniel Avitia received a Lifesaving Award for his actions taken to help a choking female on September 24, 2019 in Lake County. Sgt. Avitia was driving southbound on Broadway at US 30 when he heard car horns honking. As Sgt. Avitia looked to see what was happening, he noticed a gray Ford SUV in the turn lane to turn left onto US 30 that was not moving even though the light was green. Avitia then noticed that the female driver had her hands to her neck signaling she was choking. Avitia sprang into action by opening the driver’s door and giving her back blows that dislodged the blockage. Avitia is a 20 ½ year veteran of the Indiana State Police