Indiana Law Enforcement and Firefighters Memorial
Encyclopedia
Indiana Law Enforcement and Firefighters Memorial, is a public artwork and memorial
dedicated to law enforcement officers and firefighters from Indiana who lost their lives in the line of duty. Its design and construction was the collaborative effort of a broad range of professionals, including architects, landscapers, engineer
s, and construction experts. The memorial is located next to the Indiana Government Center North
, on the corner of Government Way and Senate Ave. in the heart of downtown Indianapolis
, Indiana
, USA. The memorial was dedicated on June 6, 2001 after ten months of planning and construction. The dedication was held three days before the 2001 opening of the World Police and Fire Games
that were held in Indianapolis.
medallions, each weighing approximately 500 lbs.
The proper right side of the memorial area is designated to honor law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. The bronze medallion atop the Indiana limestone
pylon displays a uniformed police officer
standing next to Saint Michael Archangel
, patron of police. In the center of each of the two pylons are laminated books where visitors can search for the names of individuals who are memorialized on the monument, and directions for locating the name. Behind the pylon stands eleven groups of three gray granite
panels (thirty-three panels total) with the names of Indiana police officers who have died in the line of duty etched into the granite.
To the proper left is the area designated to honor firefighters who were killed in the line of duty. A bronze medallion depicting the Firefighter
shield sits atop the pylon to the proper left. Behind the pylon stands eleven groups of three gray granite
panels (thirty-three panels total) with the names of Indiana firefighters who have died in the line of duty etched into the granite. The law enforcement and firefighter panels mirror one another and create a semicircle.
This memorial is a series of pieces, constructed from gray granite
, Indiana limestone
, and bronze
. The only easily identifiable inscriptions are part of the memorial itself, including the names of the deceased that are etched into the granite, as well as words of dedication on the pylons. There are no visible artist
or foundry
marks.
The memorial was built just 16" above a pedestrian tunnel, so extra care was taken during the construction to provide for proper weight distribution, stability, and drainage.
that were being held in Indianapolis that year.
The price for the construction of the memorial was approximately $1 million.
In 2002, Glenroy Construction was awarded the BKD Governor's Award for their work on the memorial. This award is granted for exceeding the award criteria and for a structure that provides a positive impact on the community.
based company Glenroy Construction Company, Ken Boyce of Ratio Architects, Patrick Brunner, Architect
and Bonnie Sheridan Coghlan, Architect
, and Indianapolis
based Becker Landscape participated in the design and construction of the memorial.
Memorial
A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person or an event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or art objects such as sculptures, statues or fountains, and even entire parks....
dedicated to law enforcement officers and firefighters from Indiana who lost their lives in the line of duty. Its design and construction was the collaborative effort of a broad range of professionals, including architects, landscapers, engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
s, and construction experts. The memorial is located next to the Indiana Government Center North
Indiana Government Center North
Indiana Government Center North is a high rise in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was completed in 1960 and has 14 floors. It is primarily used for office spaces for the government of Indiana.-External links:**...
, on the corner of Government Way and Senate Ave. in the heart of downtown Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, USA. The memorial was dedicated on June 6, 2001 after ten months of planning and construction. The dedication was held three days before the 2001 opening of the World Police and Fire Games
World Police and Fire Games
ThisWorld Police and Fire Games are a biennial athletic event open to active and retired law enforcement and fire service personnel throughout the world...
that were held in Indianapolis.
Description
A sign marks the pathway to the memorial which is in a park-like setting, with many trees and benches. A fountain which is in the shape of the Indiana state flag is featured in the center of the memorial. Large pylons support bronzeBronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
medallions, each weighing approximately 500 lbs.
The proper right side of the memorial area is designated to honor law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. The bronze medallion atop the Indiana limestone
Indiana Limestone
Indiana Limestone, also known as Bedford Limestone is a common regional term for Salem limestone, a geological formation primarily quarried in south central Indiana between Bloomington and Bedford....
pylon displays a uniformed police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
standing next to Saint Michael Archangel
Archangel
An archangel is an angel of high rank. Archangels are found in a number of religious traditions, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Michael and Gabriel are recognized as archangels in Judaism and by most Christians. Michael is the only archangel specifically named in the Protestant Bible...
, patron of police. In the center of each of the two pylons are laminated books where visitors can search for the names of individuals who are memorialized on the monument, and directions for locating the name. Behind the pylon stands eleven groups of three gray granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
panels (thirty-three panels total) with the names of Indiana police officers who have died in the line of duty etched into the granite.
To the proper left is the area designated to honor firefighters who were killed in the line of duty. A bronze medallion depicting the Firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
shield sits atop the pylon to the proper left. Behind the pylon stands eleven groups of three gray granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
panels (thirty-three panels total) with the names of Indiana firefighters who have died in the line of duty etched into the granite. The law enforcement and firefighter panels mirror one another and create a semicircle.
This memorial is a series of pieces, constructed from gray granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
, Indiana limestone
Indiana Limestone
Indiana Limestone, also known as Bedford Limestone is a common regional term for Salem limestone, a geological formation primarily quarried in south central Indiana between Bloomington and Bedford....
, and bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
. The only easily identifiable inscriptions are part of the memorial itself, including the names of the deceased that are etched into the granite, as well as words of dedication on the pylons. There are no visible artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
or foundry
Foundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
marks.
The memorial was built just 16" above a pedestrian tunnel, so extra care was taken during the construction to provide for proper weight distribution, stability, and drainage.
Historical information
Under the direction of the State of Indiana and the Indiana Firefighters Memorial Committee, the planning, design, and construction for the Indiana Law Enforcement and Fire Fighters Memorial commenced in August 2000. The work was completed and unveiled on June 6, 2001, just three days prior to the opening ceremonies of the World Police and Fire GamesWorld Police and Fire Games
ThisWorld Police and Fire Games are a biennial athletic event open to active and retired law enforcement and fire service personnel throughout the world...
that were being held in Indianapolis that year.
The price for the construction of the memorial was approximately $1 million.
In 2002, Glenroy Construction was awarded the BKD Governor's Award for their work on the memorial. This award is granted for exceeding the award criteria and for a structure that provides a positive impact on the community.
Artist
The design and construction of the Indiana Law Enforcement and Firefighters Memorial was a collaborative effort. IndianaIndiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
based company Glenroy Construction Company, Ken Boyce of Ratio Architects, Patrick Brunner, Architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and Bonnie Sheridan Coghlan, Architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, and Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
based Becker Landscape participated in the design and construction of the memorial.
External links
- More images of the memorial on Flickr
- Photos of this and other public artworks at the Indiana Statehouse on Flickr.
- Ken Boyce, Ratio Architects.
- Map of Indianapolis attractions, including Indiana Law Enforcement and Firefighters Memorial.
- Overview and map of Indiana Law Enforcement and Firefighters Memorial.
- Article on the history of the Indiana Law Enforcement and Firefighters Memorial.
- Indiana Veterans Memorial
- Indiana University Circle of Champions
- IUPUI Plaza