AUDIO: A Look at the John Durm Memorial Mile Interstate Sign & It’s Creation

Source: Marion County Sheriff’s Office / Marion CO. Sheriff’s Office

MARION COUNTY, Ind. — An interstate sign dedicated to a fallen Indiana cop was unveiled this week.

The John Durm Memorial Mile interstate sign was unveiled Wednesday morning at Buck Creek Winery alongside Durm’s family and friends. The sign represents a mile stretch of Interstate 74 near the Acton Road exit that has been renamed in honor of Durm. That stretch of I-74 connects to Buck Creek Winery, which is owned and operated by Durm’s brother Jeff.

There was no better place to have the unveiling ceremony, says Democrat State Representative and Marion County Sheriff’s Office Captain Mitch Gore, “we just thought it was an excellent way to remember John, his service and his sacrifice. (And) it backs right up to where many of his family live, work, or play is just an added bonus.”

Listen to the full interview here. Article continues below.

John Durm was a deputy with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for nearly 40 years, working alongside his family and many friends. He was killed on the job on July 10th, 2023, while transporting inmate Orlando Mitchell.

Security footage captured what appears to be Mitchell attacking Durm in the parking lot of the Criminal Justice Center on the east side of Indianapolis. That led to a police chase which ended with a few more officers hurt and Mitchell’s eventual arrest.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office cited a lack of resources as one of the main contributing factors to Durm’s death and has since made a pledge to tighten up aspects of its operation to prevent a similar incident from happening again.

For State Rep Mitch Gore, who along with Republican State Representative Mike Speedy authored the piece of legislation that led to the Durm memorial sign’s creation, this entire mission has been centered around one goal: keeping a promise.

“John made a promise to his community that he would serve us and protect us,” Gore explains, “and we’ve made a promise that we would remember him. He kept his, and we intend to keep ours.”

Gore says a memorial sign for Indianapolis Metro Police Officer Breann Leath will be unveiled in the coming months. Officer Leath lost her life in the line duty four years ago.

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