7 days Archive

Related content Special Report: Officer down THE TRAGEDY • IPD officer fatally shot • Gunfire spurred a flurry of 911 calls • Pistol duel ended rampage • Shootings renew area's fears about safety THE OFFICERS AND THE SUSPECT • Slain policeman always wanted to be an officer • About the officers killed or wounded • 'Everyone around here thought he was sick' THE FUNERAL • 2,200 attend funeral for slain IPD patrolman • Family converges to honor a brother • Many had personal reasons for paying respects • Holladay: Those mourning officer shouldn't forget his love of life THE ISSUES • Demand drives sale of assault-style weapons • Violent actions raise concerns for better care • IPD officers shot, killed since 1956 in the line of duty FEEDBACK • Read condolences for the family of the slain officer and offer your own

Many of Jake Laird's mourners on Monday were strangers, drawn by their common bond -- police work.

"We just think it's important to come," said Teddy Laun, a Shively, Ky., police sergeant who didn't know Laird but drove 134 miles on her day off to attend services. "It's something that touches all officers."

Although no exhaustive count was taken, more than 50 public-safety agencies throughout the state and nation sent representatives to Indianapolis. Of the more than 2,200 people at Laird's funeral, most of them were police officers, sheriff's deputies or affiliated with law enforcement or rescue work.

Shively, with 25 officers, sent Laun. The St. Louis Police Department, with 1,443 officers, had representatives in Indianapolis.

"We're all brothers and sisters; it doesn't matter our color, background, size or anything," said Cincinnati Police Officer Joehonny Reese, one of 15 police representatives from that city. "Once we put on a badge, we're all family."

The Chicago Police Department sent an officer. FBI representatives were there.

Indiana State Police 1st Sgt. Dave Bursten kept a partial guest list scribbled in a notebook. He was awed by the number of county sheriff's agencies that sent representatives, in addition to city police officers from cities such as Kokomo, Evansville, Muncie, Anderson and Lafayette.

The Marion County Sheriff's Department allowed dozens of deputies to attend for what Sheriff Frank Anderson simply called "brotherhood."

Some officers from outside the county said they came because IPD often sends a representative when a police officer in their community dies.

"It's a terrible thing, the worst thing that can happen," said Rusty York, the chief of police in Fort Wayne. "It's our way of showing support not only to the officer's family, but to the police family as well."

Steve Brady, 27, formerly with IPD and now an officer in Battle Creek, Mich., attended for a more personal reason. He went through the police academy with Laird.

"You could definitely tell he was from the military," Brady said of his friend, who had been a Marine. "He was very disciplined and always squared away."

Indianapolis Police Patrolman Christopher L. Bailey, one of Laird's best friends, said he appreciated the turnout. Just seeing all the uniforms was a comfort, he said.

"We all do the same job."

Star reporter Tim Evans contributed to this story.

Call Star reporter Tom Spalding at (317) 444-2761.

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