By David Hughes
The Tribune-Star, Terre Haute, Ind.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Law enforcers, public officials, motorcycle enthusiasts, mothers holding the hands of their children, teenagers ...
Hundreds of people banded together on a warm Saturday evening to honor slain Terre Haute police officer Rob Pitts with a prayer vigil at the eastside steps of the Vigo County Courthouse.
Pitts, a 16-year veteran of the Terre Haute Police Department, was shot and killed in the line of duty outside a Garden Quarter apartment building Friday evening while following up on a homicide investigation.
That prompted Vigo County Council candidate Chris Switzer and members of the Vigo County church community to hastily organize the vigil, which included speeches by THPD Chief of Police John Plasse, Mayor Duke Bennett, City Council President Curtis DeBaun, Pastor Billy Joe Henry, Vigo County Prosecutor Terry Modesitt and Pastor Clark Cowden.
With emotionally drained members of Pitts’ family in attendance, nearby flags hanging at half-staff and police sirens periodically zooming down Third Street (apparently on their way to new calls), the scene could not have been much more dramatic.
“I had the pleasure of escorting Rob’s family here from the funeral home,” Plasse pointed out. “Please keep them in your prayers and your thoughts. Keep Rob and my department in your prayers and thoughts.
“Rob was running toward danger to help his partner yesterday and he was struck down. He gave his life serving this community, serving us, keeping us safe. We will never be able to repay that debt to Rob.”
Said Bennett, “So every day, these men and women go to work, and they never know what’s going to happen. We’ve been through this before, and we’re dealing with it again. I just can’t thank the sacrifice enough, especially for you guys to be here right now.”
The mayor emphasized that the community needs to lift up law enforcement “all the time.”
“Every day, we should pray for them,” he said. “They’re out there facing danger all the time.”
“I know there are no words that can make this better, nothing that can make right the wrong that happened yesterday evening,” DeBaun offered. “My deepest condolences and those of the Terre Haute City Council are with the family and friends of officer Pitts and with his Terre Haute Police Department family.”
DeBaun described Pitts as “a hero in our community.”
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“We have an entire city that will be mourning with you,” he said to Pitts’ family and co-workers. “I’m very, very sorry for your loss and the loss to our community.”
“I want to thank everyone who showed up tonight to honor an amazing man,” Henry told the crowd. “Paul said it best in the Book of Romans when he tells us that God places those in authority. God chose the men and women that serve in their uniform in this community to protect our lives. He chose them before they were ever in their mothers’ womb. He hardwired them for a specific job.”
“Rob truly was a hero,” Modesitt emphasized. “He was pursuing a suspect in a murder case that occurred earlier that day. He also lost his life protecting all of us, attempting to protect his partners when he was at the scene that day.
“Rob was an excellent person and an excellent police officer. And he is a hero.”
After Cowden’s speech, he and Henry led those in attendance in a two-part prayer.
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“We rise with a fortitude that says, ‘No more. No more will we idly stand by and say it’s OK to disrespect,’” Henry said during the prayer. “But we will honor those that you have placed in authority.”
The aftermath of the vigil mostly involved hugs and words of comfort for those hurting the worst.
One trio of citizens — an adult and two children — displayed hand-made, blue signs supporting police officers.
And they didn’t even know anyone involved in the shooting.
“We care,” explained Ranell Walker, who brought 16-year-old Madison Walker and 12-year-old Katelynn Short to the vigil. “I have respect for all the officers and what they do for the schools protecting our kids and protecting our community.”
The elder Walker admitted that her family and friends were “devastated” Friday when they learned that a Terre Haute police officer had been killed.
“I still am [devastated],” mentioned Madison Walker, a student at Terre Haute North Vigo High School. “I’m holding myself together today, but it’s hard.”
Another prayer vigil to honor Pitts will be conducted at 6 p.m. today outside the Sullivan Courthouse.
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©2018 The Tribune-Star (Terre Haute, Ind.)