Top cop recalls last officer funeral

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - It was in 2004 the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police force last buried an officer killed in the line of duty. Jake Laird was killed responding to the call of an officer down. IMPD Chief Paul Ciesielski spoke with 24-Hour News 8 Anchor Karen Hensel , who remembered covering that funeral at that point

Chief Ciesielski is the one who delivered the news to the city on Tuesday that IMPD Officer David Moore would not make it after suffering gunshot wounds during a traffic stop. Ciesielski says their hearts are heavy but the officers are taking strength from the parents, each other and the community outpouring.

Long before he was chief, Ciesielski was part of the distinguished Honor Guard for the funeral of Officer Laird.

"I was a member of the Honor Guard for 13 years and that will go down really as the highlight of my career in terms of being in that unit,” the chief said. “I was very fortunate to be the Honor Guard commander for Jake's funeral. Highlight of my career to be able to lead him, the horse-drawn caisson through Crown Hill Cemetery and really be a representative of the department and show the solidarity we have as law enforcement family to honor him."

Now he will lead another officer, this time as chief, next week as he buries one of his own: Officer David Moore.