MITCHELL — Sixty-four years to the day after he made the ultimate sacrifice, Indiana State Police troopers from the Bloomington District gathered on Monday, June 8, 2026, to honor the memory of Trooper Robert C. Gillespie.
The troopers conducted a Memorial Walk along the Trooper Robert C. Gillespie Memorial Mile, a dedicated section of State Road 37 running between Bedford and Mitchell in Lawrence County.
Trooper Gillespie died in the line of duty on June 8, 1962, following a fatal traffic crash while urgently responding to a call for assistance near Mitchell. At the time of his passing, he was a 12-year veteran of the Indiana State Police, assigned to Bloomington District 7A, which had newly opened in 1956.
A Legacy of Valor and Service
Before putting on the state police uniform, Trooper Gillespie served his country as a veteran of the United States Navy.
His tenure with the Indiana State Police was defined by incredible bravery. In 1959, he was awarded the agency’s prestigious Gold Star Award for Valor. The honor was bestowed upon him after he fearlessly continued to pursue a fleeing couple who had fired shots at him, wounding him during the encounter.
Keeping the Legacy Within the Family
Monday’s Memorial Walk served as an emotional bridge across generations. Troopers met near the original 1962 crash site to begin their solemn march along the highway.
Among the law enforcement officers participating in the tribute were two of Trooper Gillespie’s direct descendants: one of his sons and his grandson, Trooper Samuel Gillespie.
Carrying on his grandfather’s exact legacy, Trooper Samuel Gillespie is currently assigned to the very same Bloomington District, ensuring that the family’s commitment to protecting the citizens of Southern Indiana remains alive today.
