Law enforcement bestows county-wide show of respect for Ingmire

Authored by Jim Langham on Jan 9, 2012

The quiet sounds of nature echoed through the barren January trees at Zwick and Jahn Funeral Home on Saturday as a county-wide representation of officers gathered to line the path where the casket bearing the remains of Duane "Dean" Ingmire was carried for a brief ceremony following the memorial service inside the funeral home.
Members of the Decatur Police Department were asked to hover over their fallen comrade as Mo Hodge, officiating minister, gave a few sullen comforting words. The nature sounds were representative of Ingmire's love of nature and outdoor sporting activities.
Final movement of Ingmire's casket were accompanied by a bagpipe band from Fort Wayne playing, "Amazing Grace" and other retiring anthems.
"We are here today to remember the life of Dean Ingmire and the legacy he left," said Hodge. "He loved people and built with the lives of people in so many different way. This is a time when we have a brief glimpse into eternity."
Songwriter Bill Gaither's immortal gospel piece, "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow," was presented as a musical representation of the ongoing Gospel hope to family members and those in attendance.
Hodge read a favorite family scripture, the well-known 23rd Psalm.
"It's so appropriate that Psalm writer David referred to the Lord as our shepherd," Hodge said. "It was Jesus' favorite description of Himself. He is our shepherd."
Ingmire's son, Brian, of Greensburg, described the times as a "very long and very busy week.
"I was able to go back to Greensburg for a short time," said Ingmire. "It was so hard, all of those memories. I fell into Tricia's arms and thought of all of the important things that he taught me. My head fell into my hands; I could feel my father's forehead in my hands. My dad was truly my childhood hero. I wanted to shoot like dad. I remember weekend trips to Gas City and Marion and Deer Creek.
"I remember my mom being the most beautiful woman wherever we traveled and my dad being my hero," added Ingmire.
Jeremy Ingmire, of Westport, also a son, said that he always pictured his father as a guide and a leader.
"I remember one time when he passed my bedroom door and I was packing my suitcase. 'Where are you going?' he asked. I told him that I was going to Alaska and he said, 'okay,' and walked on," noted Jeremy. "He wasn't worried. He knew I could make it. He always instilled in us the attitude that we could make it. I knew that I could overcome any challenges because of what my dad instilled in me."
Ty Hanni, a co-worker from the Decatur Police Department, referred to Ingmire as a "pretty straight shooter."
"For some reason, Dean loved to search buildings," said Hanni. "It wasn't so much about doing the building search as training other officers to do the search. Dean went out and purchased a PlayStation. I didn't believe it until I went over and saw for myself. This was for another type of training."
"Dean always called you a colorful name when he saw you," commented Jamie Tharp. "The words that will get me through every day will be the terms and phrases he used on the range. He did amazing things on the range. He was a teacher; the things he taught me will live on forever in my mind."
A close friend, Jeff Ott, told those present that he had known Ingmire for over 20 years. It was his close friendship with the officer that inspired Ott to go into firearms.
"When you knew him, his habits made perfect sense," said Ott.
"Goodbye old friend, rest in peace," said Ott as he saluted Ingmire's casket.
Hodge told those present that an irony presented itself in the room where Ingmire had been found following the fire. There was a beautiful picture of Jesus that was still clear and very viewable in spite of the ashes on all of the other parts of the room. Underneath the picture, and just as legible, was a copy of the Lord's Prayer.
"God can do things like that," said Hodge. "He loved nature; God reveals Himself in nature, and he kept His picture clear in spite of the fire."
Outside, the sound of the bagpipes faded as they marched away with the procession; silence filled the crowd of stunned officers as the sounds of nature reminded those present of the connection between Heaven and earth they had learned through Officer Ingmire.

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