INDIANAPOLIS – To honor fallen officers, public safety officials in the Indianapolis and surrounding area plan to wear black mourning bands.
The black bands, provided by the Fraternal Order of Police for Indianapolis, will be worn over an officer’s badge, which is pinned next to their heart. The bands show the community police are mourning with and support affected families.
"We hope family members may see us and we are wearing the mourning band,” said IMPD Patrolman Rob Turner. “It just shows that we won't forget their loved ones. It just brings the family as we always say there is a blue family and that blue family is anyone who wears a badge and it just shows that our family is going to be stronger and closer now."
Public safety personnel normally wear the bands from the time of an officer’s passing until a few days following memorial services.
Within 24 hours, Marion County lost two officers – Southport Police Lt. Aaron Allan who was fatally shot Thursday while responding to the scene of an accident, and IMPD Deputy Chief who also died Thursday after being critically injured in a crash.
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