Sunday, May 14, 2023
AUBURN, Ind. – They risk their lives each day, leaving family and loved ones at home, as they head into our community to serve and protect the city, county and surrounding area.
Law enforcement personnel from around the county, state and nation will celebrate National Police Week today through Saturday, May 20. National Police Week affords res
idents and the law enforcement community the opportunity to honor and remember those officers and personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty and those who continue to serve and protect on a daily basis.
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week.
This week we pay tribute to all those officers who currently serve and protect the City of Auburn and DeKalb County and remember those who have served over the years.
The local law enforcement community lost one of its own this year when Indiana State Police Master Trooper James Bailey lost his life while on duty. Bailey, a 16 year ISP veteran, was killed in a vehicle crash on March 3 on Interstate 69 just north of the C.R. 11A interchange. Bailey was assisting other troopers on I-69 with a traffic backup as a result of a weather related vehicle crash. He attempted to de-escalate a vehicle pursuit by deploying stop sticks and was struck by the suspect vehicle, according to police reports.
Bailey was laid to rest Saturday, March 11. He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, father, and several in-laws. In 2010 Bailey was presented with the ISP’s Life Saving Award, in 2012 he was named Trooper of the Year for District 22 and was presented the Action Award in 2021.
Law enforcement officers from around the United States will converge on Washington D.C. this week to honor those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. A special ceremony will take place at the National Peace Officers Memorial on Monday, May 15.
National Police Week draws in between 25,000 to 40,000 attendees. The attendees come from departments throughout the United States as well as from agencies throughout the world.