Healing continues a year after Perry Renn’s death
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Sunday marks one year since IMPD officer Perry Renn was killed in a shoot-out on the city’s north east side.
His family dedicated a headstone at his grave site at Crown Hill Cemetery.
Renn was on the department for 22 years. On Tuesday Indianapolis will hold a city-wide roll call in Renn’s honor. It will be held at the Andrews Academy at 7pm.
Its just one of the ways Hoosiers are honoring Renn’s life, and sacrifice.
Blue lights still light the streets of Renn’s north district. The lights were first switched on in the days following his death.
“The organization is basically to increase support, so however we have to do it, we do it,” said Angi Cheeseman, co-founder of Indy Going Blue.
Since its founding in the days following Renn’s death, its since branched out to Indiana Going Blue and now America Going Blue. All of the organizations intend to highlight what officers do on a daily basis.
“You and I, we see it on “Cops,” we see it on TV, but we don’t really understand what they do, so my goal is more helping people understand and see what the job really entails,” said Cheeseman.
It’s part business, part personal for Cheeseman. Her daughter is an IMPD officer and worked the same streets as Renn.
Renn’s death was the beginning of a turbulent year for officers across the country.
According to the Officer Down Memorial, 133 officers died in the line of duty since last July, including New York City Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu
“Ramos and Liu were murdered while simply sitting in their squad car,” said New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell while debating the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act of 2015 on the house floor.
Rep. Pascrell authored the act. It established a notification system when officers are down. It’s similar to amber and silver alerts. It passed the House of Representatives and Senate by voice vote. President Obama signed it into law in May.
“Talk must be followed by action,” said Rep. Pasrell.
Back in Indianapolis, as the city continues to heal, the main focus of Tuesday’s service is to support Renn’s family and his fellow officers.
“We wish we didn’t have to be in this position, but its definitely something that we thought about. But our main purpose here is to make sure Lynn (Renn) and the Renn family know that we will never forget his sacrifice,” said Commander Chris Bailey with IMPD.
At Tuesday’s service the department will also dedicate a fallen officer legacy street project sign in Renn’s honor.