FORT WAYNE – The Indiana State Police held their annual awards and recognition ceremony in Indianapolis on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The ceremony publicly recognized the achievements and accomplishments that too often go unrecognized. Troopers were honored for their dedication, service, bravery, and devotion to the department and the citizens of Indiana.
Indiana State Police Fort Wayne District Trooper, Senior Trooper Jeff Goehring, has been awarded the Combat Action Award and the Silver Star for his courageous actions during the pursuit of a murder suspect in 2025.
On April 20th, 2025, Senior Trooper Goehring responded to a pursuit involving a homicide suspect from Fort Wayne. The pursuit continued into Whitley County where S/Trp. Goehring moved into the lead of the pursuit to attempt a PIT (Precision Immobilization Technique) maneuver to bring the pursuit to a safe conclusion.
Knowing that the suspect was armed and had possibly committed murder in Fort Wayne, S/Trp. Goehring still put himself in harms way to safely end the incident. At the time contact was made with the suspect’s vehicle, the suspect brandished a firearm and opened fire on S/Trp. Goehring. Numerous shots struck S/Trp. Goehring’s police car, including several rounds into the passenger compartment. Following the shooting and PIT, the suspect barricaded himself inside the vehicle. The Successful PIT prevented the suspect from continuing into a populated area.
S/Trp. Goehring’s actions were performed intelligently to end a dangerous situation and involved a risk of serious injury or loss of life.
