Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper Robert Gillespie was killed in a traffic accident while rushing to a call for assistance near Mitchell in Lawrence County. While traveling with his emergency lights on, Trooper Gillespie was forced to leave the road when a pickup truck slowed in front of him. Leaving the highway to avoid the truck, Trooper Gillespie swerved back on the highway to avoid another car in his path. A third car then struck his vehicle. Trooper Gillespie had served with the Indiana State Police for nearly 12 years and was assigned to the Seymour post. He was a US Navy veteran serving in the Shore Patrol. Trooper Gillespie was survived by his wife and six children. In 1959, he was awarded the agency's Gold Star Award for Valor when, in spite of gunshot wounds, he continued to pursue a couple who had fired at him.
Survivors
Trooper Gillespie was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-078A1C4E- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Trooper Gillespie gave the Indiana State Police 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Indiana, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Robert Craig Gillespie served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Trooper Robert Craig Gillespie is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In IN, 151 of 503 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Indiana State Police, 23 of 46 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Craig Gillespie's cause is highlighted.
How Robert Craig Gillespie Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Craig Gillespie is highlighted in Jun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
45 officers from Indiana State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
