New high school to honor fallen officer

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A new high school will open in honor of fallen IMPD Officer David Moore to train the next generations in public safety. 

It was a very powerful night as two Indiana governors, the mayor and military generals all gathered at the Indiana War Memorial to remember Officer Moore, killed in the line of duty.

The Moore Foundation announced his legacy will help those he never met one day stand among those ready to serve. 

David's mother Joann Moore remembers, "his most cherished memories are of ROTC at Purdue."

In the fall of 2000, a young David Moore arrived on the Purdue University campus on a four-year Marine Corps ROTC scholarship. An old football injury stopped him from commissioning as a Marine Corps Officer. 

FULL COVERAGE | Officer David Moore

The keynote speaker, General Ron Fogleman / USAF, Ret., told the crowd, "When the path to this particular approach was blocked, David chose to become part of our domestic security forces. He became a policeman and in particular, he became a policeman in the Indianapolis police force."

Governor Mitch Daniels said, "This state has 6.5 million people in it. But there aren't any more admirable than your son was and that you and your family are. The state cannot get enough people like you."

Governor-elect Mike Pence agreed.

"The people of Indiana are grateful to this family and I pledge to you the first lady and next governor of Indiana will stand with all of you as you stand by the work and memory and ongoing legacy of Officer David Moore.

Mayor Greg Ballard also spoke.

"Spencer and Jo have been so strong throughout the entire ordeal and continue to give back as a result of David's service to us."

The room was powerful, also including new IMPD Chief Rick Hite, Indiana National Guard Major General Marty Umbarger and others.

David Moore left a lasting impact at Purdue and will continue to do so with The David S. Moore Scholarship for Purdue NROTC Midshipmen.

Now, what could be the most lasting mark of Moore is a high school for public safety academy. It's not only for those who step forward to serve, but those in need of guidance.

It is for at risk kids, like Jose Guzman, who was expelled from Howe High School.

"I was walking down the street and there was three detectives," Guzman recalls. "They thought I was the cause of a tag on the wall."

An officer gave Guzman his card. Four years later Jose still carries it. He wants to be a detective like Officer Frank Linkenberg. Jose called him once but there was no return call. 

He says he knows the detective was busy so now he says,  "I hope he gets this message to know he changed my life."

Jose will graduate in January from Broad Ripple.

The public safety academy will take the kids that are expelled and put them back into school immediately. The hope too is that the academy will change their perception of law enforcement. For many of the at risk kids their only view is that they have been handcuffed or a family member has been taken to jail.

IMPD and IFD will serve as consultants to develop the curriculum for the academy. Fundraising must raise over $1 million.

The city will give them the building. They're now looking for the location to open to the first students in 2014.  

Spencer Moore says he will be there that morning to greet the first group.