Medals returned to fallen officer's grave site

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Momentos stolen from the grave of an IMPD officer shot and killed last year have been returned.

Friends, family and members of the community have left medals and mementos on Officer David Moore’s memorial in Crown Hill Cemetery for the past year or so. But when Moore’s father went to the site Saturday morning, he noticed a lot of them were missing .    

His parents made a plea over the weekend on WISH-TV for their return. Now, a day that began with sadness for the family of David Moore, but with a chance visit to the grave to find comfort, ended with peace.

Monday began with emotion and another letting go, as his son’s Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department patrol car was released to go back into service soon.

"There were a lot of personal items in that car that belonged to David," said Officer David Moore’s father, Spencer Moore.

On a cold Sunday morning a year and half ago, David Moore stepped out of his car on a routine stop, but was shot and killed.

• SPECIAL SECTION | Take a look back in the archives to learn more about Officer David Moore's life and death

The car remained in evidence exactly as it was that morning.

"Nothing removed from it,” Spencer Moore said. “The only thing that is different is it was covered with fingerprint dust."

For his parents, both officers themselves, it was seeing a snapshot in time.

"He liked snuff, his coffee mug was in there, thermos, personal notes he had written, things we had given him, religious things you stick on the visor,” Spencer Moore said. “He had his own personal patrol rifle in there."

Family and fellow officers were there for what his father called a changing of the guard for the vehicle.

"It was much, much more difficult than we thought it would be,” Spencer Moore said. “It was very emotional. Very difficult to deal with."

He admitted it was hard to open that car door

"It was extremely hard but this,” he said, referring to the returned momentos, “saved the day for us. It really did."

Military medals that were stolen over the weekend from Moore’s grave were returned anonymously on Monday.

"Joann was the first one to see them, and she says, ‘They're back! they're back!’” said Spencer Moore, referring to his wife and David’s mother. “It really made the difference in the day. It totally did."

The medals were given to David by his best friend, Ryan, from Purdue ROTC, who went on to become a Marine in Iraq. Also returned were military and police challenge coins, in plastic, under a football.

"When we picked up the football to look there they were underneath it," Spencer Moore said.

The football perhaps an apology.

"They did it very thoughtfully and conscientiously," Spencer Moore said.

It was a gift from a stranger who they believe simply didn't understand what he or she had stolen.

"They didn't understand these are communications between David and the people who loved him and cared for him and honored him by leaving them there," his father said.

The military medals won't be returned to the grave for fear they may disappear again.

But David Moore's squad car went to his friend and fellow IMPD officer Jason Hayes and will be back on the streets soon.