SOUTHPORT, Ind. – Filling the shoes of Southport Lt. Aaron Allan, who was killed in the line of duty in July, is a big job – but Kyle Vaughn, one of the departments’ newest officers – is up for the challenge.
"I honor this position knowing Lt. Allan's position before mine. I have big shoes to fill, but I’m excited for that,” he said.
Vaughn, who is also the Southport police chief’s son, was listed third on the city’s initial hiring list.
"The best thing I could do every day -- Lt. Alan would want me to do my job to the best of my ability and to continue to do that. It's going to scary some times. It's what we signed up for,” said Vaughn.
Allan was killed while responding to a crash in Homecroft. Witnesses said he was shot by Jason Brown, the man he was attempting to rescue from an overturned vehicle.
Chief Tom Vaughn said he wanted to make clear he had no say in the hiring of his son, but believes he is worthy of the badge.
"(I’m) proud and nervous as a father,” said the chief.
MORE Lt. Aaron Allan
Family of Lt. Aaron Allan issues statement thanking the community for support | Funeral arrangements set for Southport police Lt. Aaron Allan | Hours before he was killed, Lt. Aaron Allan walked his son to his first day of kindergarten | Remembering Southport police Lt. Aaron Allan: A father, a husband & first to rush to those in need | Fellow officer on Lt. Aaron Allan: "The footprints he left are huge" | Southport officer thought he was responding to a routine crash, instead he was shot to death | Who is Jason Brown? Woman who's known him his whole life says shooting suspect is 'shy & timid' | Jason Brown formally charged with murder; allegedly shot Lt. Allan 11 times, including while he was crawling away | Jason Brown's criminal history includes only 1 misdemeanor | Owner of shop where suspected cop killer Jason Brown worked: "Please don't condemn us all" | Numbers show officer's shooting like nothing Southport has ever seen
PHOTOS | Memorial for Lt. Aaron Allan on his cruiser | Southport police Lt. Aaron Allan
