Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Jason my friend, I do sure miss you. Hard to believe it’s been 23 years. I have so many great memories of you and some funny stories about you in dispatch. I’ll always cherish them. You always knew how to make me laugh!

Civilian
Friend

September 17, 2024

Jason, my dear dear friend,
I don't know how 22 yrs have gone by when it still seems like yesterday.
You will always be loved and never forgotten.

Civilian Carol
Friend

September 17, 2023

Still miss and love you my friend.

Carrie

February 24, 2023

Faithful Unto Death | Eternal Rest | Salute

S. I. Drake - Lt/IPD | IMPD (Ret)

September 16, 2021

Well, little buddy. It has almost been 20 years. Can you believe it? I just wanted to let you know I was thinking about you. Remembering all of our little chats. Remembering the challenge of getting the first drunk driver off the street before you. Remembering you as a cadet and then reaching your dream of becoming a Deputy.

Things have changed so much in the last 20 years. One thing that has never changed. We will never forget you!!

I just wanted to let you know I was thinking about you!

Connie

Retired IMPD Detective Etter
MCSD\IMPD

September 13, 2021

I like to think of Jason outside this department. Not in it. You wouldn’t even know policing now Jason. I’d like to remember our times outside of any department and laughs we used to have . Love you and Think of you always. I still remember our times as Roommates and good friends. That was crazy and real times.

Jason Cottey
Ipd always!

June 2, 2021

Never forgotten friend....

A friend

September 18, 2020

Rest in peace and always know that your service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)

September 17, 2020

Faithful Unto Death | Eternal Rest | Salute

S. I. Drake - Lt/IPD | IMPD (Ret)

September 17, 2020

~ Faithful Unto Death | Eternal Rest | Salute ~

S. I. Drake - Lt/IPD | IMPD (Ret)

September 17, 2019

Jason,

I haven’t been able to post anything on this page since this happened. I don’t know if it’s been denial or avoidance or just being to weak to be strong enough to say what I wanted to say.

Here we are almost 18 years later and I’m not sure I have the words to say still. The night you were taken from us changed my life in a huge way. In fact I’m still coping with the trauma from that night and not sure that will ever change.

I remember the week before this happened and we were heading south on Binford Blvd. going to a run. I was driving behind you and the trunk of your police car popped open while you were driving about 64 mph. I remember things flying out of your open trunk and notifying you on the illegal “tax” radio that you had a malfunction.

You then went on your days off and the last day before you were due to come back to work you showed up at Walmart on Keystone Ave. where I was arresting a shoplifter. You pulled up next to my police car and told me that you had been cleaning out, organizing and detailing your police car during your days off. This was because you had some much stuff in it, that it caused your trunk to fly open the week before. You blamed it mostly on your accident reconstructionist equipment. While we were at the Walmart it seemed like there was something more you wanted to tell me, but you just couldn’t quite seem to say it. I later found out what you wanted to tell me. And I wished I could tell you that I support you.

The next day you returned to work as I was winding down my work week. As usually we all met at the Speedway gas station. You were showing us you now immaculately clean and well organized police car in the parking lot. You were proud of the work you put into cleaning and organizing your car as you should have been, it looked great!

We then all went on our separate ways and began taking our runs during what was a usual busy, short-staffed summer middle shift on the Northeast side of town. I vividly remember us taking a break and catching dinner at McDonald’s and remember still remember what you ate there all those years ago. After dinner we went back out and too our runs.

I remember you hitting me up on the “tac” radio and asking if I was close to 62nd & Allisonville Rd because you were wanting to stop a car. I remember the car was some kind of GM product and it passed you burning the brights and you thought that it might have the column punched and thus have the bright lights stuck on and possibly stolen. I backed you up on that traffic stop in the parking or the Subway that we always ate at. The car ended up not being stolen and it the occupants of the car ended up being very nice and respectful teenagers who simply had no clue that their bright lights were on.

After that traffic stop we again went our separate ways and onto other runs. I remember being on the same run with you at various times after, but then things really got busy and we both had to divert several times. Eventually Paul Z. And I were on a check the security of a residents and you ended up on a hold-up alarm up in Beat #4. As Paul and I were checking the house you came on the radio and told control that they were going to have to divert you. But the first thing Paul and I noticed was your siren was blaring in the background. I remember we both kind of looked at each other like “he’s gotta a freaking pursuit going while we are stuck checking this damn house”. We were both a little off-put that we couldn’t instantly get into the fun of a car chase with you right away. Paul and I hurriedly cleared the house as your traffic stop officially turned into a pursuit.

As Paul and I was leaving the house we just checked and running to our cars to coke join you, we heard the most gut-wrenching radio traffic we could imagine. You had told control that the occupants of the car you were pursuing were shooting at you out the back of their car. Paul and I were following each other and leap-frogging intersections trying our damnedest to get to you as fast as we could; but it seemed like traffic was just not getting out of our way fast enough and I that night. I remember at one point punching the middle of my steering wheel out of frustration that we couldn’t be there with you helping you at that moment. I punched my steering wheel so damn hard that was the Silver medal Ford emblem was dented and bent.

As we were driving like crazy to get to where you were updating us I remember thinking “okay, Jason is still talking on the radio so he’s okay” but that all changed just a few minutes later when you stopped giving radio updates.

I remember Paul and I driving to the area where we last heard you were and parking our cars. I remember getting out of our cars and going to look for you. I remember hearing everyone on the radio but you, which was odd because you loved to talk on the radio. Paul and I were running through an apartment complex trying desperately to find you to no avail. I remember seeing the residents of that apartment complex hitting the ground in unison and wondering why they were all ducking to the ground. Later on I figured out because one of the people who was in the suspect car go out and started opening fire on everyone and anyone in the area, especially police officers, but I was so tunneled I’m on finding you that I didn’t hear a single high-powered rifle round being shot.

I then remember Paul and I coming up to your car which was crashed into the corner of a house. As we approached we saw Mike Duke (IPD) and Linda White (MCSD) at the scene. Mike has just broke out the window of your car and opened your door as Wishard medics were arriving.

I remember the medics placing you on the gurney and wheeling you to the back of the ambulance. And I remember thinking, or maybe hoping, that you were just knocked silly from crashing into the corner of the house and that you would eventually wake up and us all laugh and joke about the crazy ass car pursuit you just had, But I was obviously in denial.

Someone I was pushed into the back of the ambulance with you and rode to Wishard with you. During the ride I was still in denial and expecting you to come through at any moment. But then I heard the medics discuss your wounds and reality sat in and I knew things were beyond serious. From that point on I was numb and it was like I was in a bad, bad, bad dream.

The rest of the ambulance ride was a blur even though it seemed like it took forever. I remember pulling up to the old ambulance bay at Wishard hospital that we have all been to before while following other ambulances with our arrestees and immediate detentions, but this time felt so damn eerily different. The medics unloaded the gurney and you from the ambulance and rushed you inside the he ER while I remained out in the bay trying to compose myself and try to make sense of what had just happened. I then remember your father (Jerry) running into the ambulance bay and towards the door to the ER. I remember that not only was Your father in uniform but that he had his radio on and blaring loudly and with a look of panic on his face. Then it doned on me that your father just heard his son murdered on the police radio.

These are all things I will NEVER forget whether it be fortunate or unfortunately. Although I don’t want to forget the selfless sacrifice you made that night there are some aspects of it I wished I could forget. But those are all parts of me now and I have to take them collectively. Riding in the back of an ambulance with an officer who was just shot was an absolute nightmare at the time, but looking back on it I was honored to have escorted a hero such as you. I know that you not only touched and affected the life of many people around you but you obviously affected my life too. I still carry the challenge coin your dad gave me in my wallet, it goes with me every day. I will never forget you as a person or as a police officer. I will
Never forget the sacrifice you made!

Rest In Peace Jason and look over Wes now.

Sergeat Jerry Durham (retired)
Marion County Sheriff’s Department/Indianapolis Metro. Police Dept.

March 18, 2019

Never Forgotten Brother

Deputy D Bigler
Marion County Sheriff Ind

September 17, 2018

Faithful Unto Death | Eternal Rest | Salute

S. I. Drake - Lt/IPD | IMPD (Ret)
Indianapolis Police

September 16, 2018

Rest In Peace Brother LEO. Thank you and your family for your sacrifice and service.

Officer Mike Robinson, (Ret)
Upland Police Dept. CA

January 8, 2018

NEVER FORGOTTEN!
Cops Cycling for Survivors
www.copscycling4survivors.org

Monica Zahasky
Cops Cycling for Survivors

September 17, 2017

Faithful Unto Death | Eternal Rest | Salute!

S. I. Drake, Lt/IPD-IMPD (Ret)
Indianapolis Police

September 16, 2017

Dear Jason, I know we never had the opportunity to meet, however, I have a true and genuine love and respect for you. In my mind you exemplify everything a law enforcement officer should be.

I know you are present with Our Blessed Lord and as such you hear my appeal to you and know where my heart is. I have made mistakes many years ago and have since matured a great deal. Please let these words be a testament to you that I want to follow in your footsteps and pray for me as I proceed through the IMPD process.

May God Bless your family Jason Baker. I know one day I will see you if I live a life deserving of eternity.

Highest Regards,

Christopher Mabarak

October 10, 2016

We visited your grave this afternoon Jason. Hard to believe it has been 15 years. Time does not heal all wounds. You are never forgotten brother.

Sergeant Brian McEwen
IMPD

September 18, 2016

I remember this happening and prayers each day for my brothers and sisters as they put on uniform as he did and go do what they loved

lieutenant
vigo county sheriff office

September 17, 2016

Love ya, bro! We never stop thinking about you!

Snoop

September 17, 2016

Eternal Rest

S. I. Drake, Lt/IPD (Ret)
Indianapolis Police

September 17, 2016

Jason-

I have never shared the fact that you were responsible for me starting a career in law enforcement. We met when I was working at Wal-Mart on E. Washington St in Loss Prevention, You were a wagon driver then. I watched you become a full timer and how happy you were. I was also a volunteer firefighter/EMT in Fishers at the time and you would make fun of me for that. You talked me into switching careers into law enforcement. Today, I am a full timer in Lawrence and I have you to thank for that!

I was at your funeral. In fact it was the first law enforcement funeral I attended and unfortunately not the last. I get chills when thinking about the outpouring of support that was shown that day. I was just in Washington DC where I went to the National Law Enforcement Memorial and saw your name there. I wasn't expecting the reaction that had come over me. I can still picture you in my office at the time or when you drove up in your patrol car. Thank you again for talking me into this career that I love doing so much. Thank you for being a friend.

Patrolman Michael McKenna
City of Lawrence Police Department Lawrence, In

August 23, 2016

Eternal Rest

S. I. Drake, Lt/IPD (Ret)
Indianapolis Police

September 16, 2015

IN HONORE CASORUM
The Promise: Always honored, never forgotten.

Sgt. T. Jake Jones
Greater Cleveland Transit Police Department, Ohio

July 18, 2015

Jason,

In the year 2000 you came to my home. It was the night that my two older brothers got into a fight over a can of coke. Being that my mom was a single mother of four boys, the only thing she knew to do in such times was to call the police. I was about 12 years old when you stepped foot into our home that evening. You were so calm. You talked to both of my brothers while reflecting with my mother about the situation. You left a good impression on us boys. In fact, you even inspired David and Jacob, my older brothers that started the tussle to become police officers. I think we all wanted to be cops after your visit. From then on me and my brothers would find you doing your job and would stop and talk to you. I have such good childhood memories of your presence. Thank you God, that I was able to meet Jason.

Benjamin
Friend

March 6, 2015