13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Lt. Gary Dudley honored for leadership

Lt. Gary Dudley honored for leadership

Brownsburg - Over 500 law enforcement officers are attending the funeral for Indiana State Trooper Gary Dudley Tuesday. Lt. Dudley is the highest-ranking officer to die in the line of duty in state history.

Lt. Dudley was killed in a crash while riding his bike for a police charity last week. Another officer, former police chief Gary Martin, was also killed in the crash. His funeral was held Monday in Merrillville.

Governor Mitch Daniels has ordered that flags fly at half-staff Tuesday to honor the two fallen officers. The governor attended the funeral, which was held at the Connection Pointe Christian Church of Brownsburg. "In the final moment of his life, he was serving others," the governor said.

Two of the survivors of last week's accident also attended, along with officers from around the country.

Lt. Dudley, 52, had been organizing the bike ride to raise funds for Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) for the past three years. The program supports families who have lost officers. 

Dudley is not only known for his giving spirit but for his ability to lead. He was a commander in the Indiana State Police training division. Over half of the existing troopers trained under Dudley and some even went on to serve in the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Those accomplishments brought his close friend and colleague to tears. "A little bit of Gary continues to live in you," said Sgt. David Bursten. "You are a part of Gary's life legacy."

One of Dudley's former trainees says he helped form and shape the Indiana State Police as much as anybody on the department.

"So often you hear when someone dies tragically, after the fact that they were a great person. Everybody says that but this is really one of those cases where Gary - on a scale of one to ten, Gary was a twenty," said Sgt. Brian Olehy, Indiana State Police.

Lt. Dudley is also remembered as a man who cared about his fellow officers and who was dedicated to a cause.

"Many people have an interest, but it remains dormant, buried within their good intentions, never to see the light of day. Not so with Gary. He proactively transformed his interest in survivors of law enforcement line of duty death into a concern - a heartfelt, body-motivated passion to support the families of fallen officers. He didn't do it for the recognition. He did it because he cared," said Daniel Coffey, state police chaplain.

Families find friends for life through COPS while taking survivors to the annual police memorial service in Washington D.C. The bike run raises about $30,000 a year to help Hoosier survivors. The survivors of the crash that killed Dudley and Martin plan to complete their charity ride this coming Thursday to commemorate the men. 

Gary Dudley is survived by his wife, father and brother.

Final call for Lt. Gary Dudley (sound file)