300 attend bridge renaming in honor of fallen Richmond officer Seara Burton

RICHMOND, Ind. — Over the past two years, Seara Burton's family and the city of Richmond has worked to ensure her name will never be forgotten.

From her cruiser being on permanent display to an End of Watch ride honoring her and hundreds of her brothers and sisters in blue , Wednesday afternoon was another day to remember her.

About 300 people, including local officials and officers, arrived at the Police and Fire Training Center as the Chester Boulevard Bridge over Interstate 70 was officially named the Officer Seara Burton Memorial Bridge.

Government officials in attendance included Richmond Mayor Ron Oler, U.S. Rep. Greg Pence, U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, Indiana Rep. Dr. Brad Barrett and Indiana Sen. Jeff Raatz.

"This had to be the fastest road naming proclamation in the history of Indiana," Barrett said. "We got buy-in from the city, from Mayor (Dave) Snow, from the city council, from the county council. We were faxing documents to the Statehouse for the very last roads and transportation meeting of the 2023 session. Chairman (Jim) Pressel held the meeting until we got those documents."

The only thing that prevented the renaming of the bridge from happening sooner was the pending trial of Phillip Matthew Lee, the man suspected of killing Burton at a traffic stop in 2022.

Lee was found dead in his prison cell at the Pendleton Correctional Facility in June , with the Indiana State Police and coroner yet to release a cause of death.

Pence and Braun spoke on the importance of ensuring Burton's legacy lives on, with Pence saying, "We know our law enforcement officers as neighbors, friends and honorable public servants, who even on the easiest of days perform a difficult and dangerous job. Behind the badge and uniform are the men and women who put their lives on the line every day on behalf of those they serve in their community. They stand for what is good, just and right. ...

"This is also a moment to reflect and do what we can to ensure that her sacrifice was not in vain. Now more than ever, our heroic first responders deserve more support, not less. As we honor officer Burton, we recommit ourselves to defending the people that keep us safe. This bridge is a testament to that promise."

Richmond Police Chief Kyle Weatherly, Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter and Richmond Police Department officer and Burton's stepmother, Sgt. Ami Miller, also spoke.

"For those of you who did not know Seara, she was a hero," Miller said through tears. "She was a warrior. She was dedicated to serving this community, and she did it with pride and integrity. Seara loved this job and the people she served. ... It has been two years since that awful day, and we still hurt, we still grieve, and we continue to try to process her being gone. Our lives will never be the same, but today we celebrate Seara by dedicating this bridge in her name. ...

"I want to conclude my comments with an impassioned plea to our legislatures to join families, friends and communities who have lost officers to create immediate, meaningful changes in our legal system," she said. "Too often, violent offenders are back on the street due to lighter sentences for a multitude of crimes. It is a vital importance that families and stakeholders band together to reduce inadequate plea bargains and early release drastically. If we band together in this fight and make real change, we can hopefully prevent these types of tragedies from devastating other families and communities."

Shortly after the ceremony ended, the Indiana Department of Transportation left the training center to immediately set up the sign.

Evan Weaver is a news and sports reporter at The Palladium-Item. Contact him on X (@evan_weaver7) or email at eweaver@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: 300 attend bridge renaming in honor of fallen Richmond officer Seara Burton