Indiana State Police Troopers are currently investigating for the second time, the destruction of a memorial site that honors two of Indiana's fallen law enforcement officers. The memorial site on SR 63, just south of Interstate 74 in northern Vermillion County, marks the area where Indiana State Police Lieutenant Gary Dudley and Lake County Sheriff's Deputy Gary Martin were struck and killed in August of 2006, while participating in the annual C.O.P.S. bicycle ride.

Today's damage consisted of numerous flowers pulled from the ground and strewn about, two wooden crosses with the individual officers names adorned were partially broken and profanity spray painted on the remaining vertical portions, and a single picture portraying Dudley and Martin together was covered with black spray paint.

At approximately 7:30a.m. this morning, while on routine patrol, Vermillion County Sheriff's Deputy C.B. McLaren found the site destroyed. The Indiana State Police Post at Terre Haute was then contacted and Senior Trooper Jeremy Lewis arrived at the scene and conducted the investigation. The destruction is believed to have occurred during the early morning hours of today.

The site was first destroyed on July 23, 2008 and that investigation is still ongoing.

The Indiana State Police would like assistance from the public in solving these crimes; therefore, if anyone has information that would assist officers in bringing the person(s) to justice, contact the Terre Haute Post at 812-299-1151 or 1152.

Direct any questions to Sergeant Joe Watts.

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