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Incident
Trooper Lewis Phillips was killed in an automobile accident near Springville in LaPorte County while responding to assist another trooper who was pursuing a traffic violator. Trooper Phillips was traveling westbound on U.S. 20 when his patrol car crested a hill and was struck by a semitrailer whose driver was making an illegal U-turn and was blocking all four lanes of the roadway. The truck driver was charged with involuntary manslaughter, disobeying a traffic control device and having an inadequate log book. Trooper Phillips had served with the Indiana State Police for 11 months, being killed five days before completing his status as a probationary trooper and was assigned to the Dunes Park post. He had previously served as a weighman in the Motor Carrier Division for 11 months.
Survivors
Trooper Phillips was survived by his parents and brother.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Phillips gave the Indiana State Police 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Indiana. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Phillips.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Indiana State Police has lost 46 officers; 23 of them lost to accidents.
Lewis is one of 151 officers lost to accidents in IN, 30% of the 503 remembered there.
Lewis is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Lewis is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1975, 1 officer at Indiana State Police was lost to accidents, the 4th heaviest of 20 years on record. The heaviest was 1955, with 2.
In 1975, 1 officer in IN was lost to accidents, the 47th heaviest of 85 years on record. The heaviest was 1942, with 4.
In 1975, 67 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 59th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1975, 73 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 70th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Lewis was 26. Of the 23 lost to accidents at Indiana State Police whose age is recorded, half were between 26 and 36; the middle age was 29. Lewis had served 2.1 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Lewis was 26. Of the 149 lost to accidents in IN whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 47; the middle age was 36. Lewis had served 2.1 years; the middle length of service was 4.6 years.
Lewis was 26. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Lewis had served 2.1 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Lewis was 26. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Lewis had served 2.1 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 17.4% of these deaths at Indiana State Police; January holds the most, 17.4%. Wednesdays: 21.7%.
April holds 7.3% of these deaths in IN; December holds the most, 11.3%. Wednesdays: 13.9%.
April holds 7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
April holds 7% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 50% of all 46 deaths at Indiana State Police, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 503 deaths in IN, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Indiana State Police has 46 officers remembered here, Lewis among them.
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Eugene Teague
Dec 20, 1933
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Paul Vincent Minneman
May 27, 1937
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William Raymond Dixon
Jun 28, 1938
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George August Forster
May 17, 1941
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Richard F. England
Apr 22, 1942
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Herbert Wade Smith
Dec 5, 1946
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Robert Earl Clevenger
Sep 8, 1953
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Hubert C. Roush
Jan 26, 1955
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Earl LeRoy Brown
Aug 31, 1955
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John Raymond Miller
Sep 5, 1955
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Donald Raymond Turner
Jan 28, 1956
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Marvin Edward Walts
Mar 18, 1957
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William Rae Kellems
Sep 30, 1957
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John Henry Powell
Feb 27, 1959
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Robert Jack Garrison
Dec 14, 1959
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Robert Craig Gillespie
Jun 8, 1962
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William Frederick Kieser
Mar 9, 1965
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Oscar Eugene Mills
Apr 12, 1966
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William R. Rayner
Dec 18, 1966
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Richard Gerald Brown
Sep 27, 1967
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Robert Otto Lietzan
Mar 30, 1969
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George William Campbell
Jun 18, 1969
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John Joseph Streu
Feb 20, 1971
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Glen Russell Hosier
Apr 26, 1971
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William Joseph Trees
Jun 26, 1972
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Lawrence Bernard Meyer
Feb 2, 1974
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Lewis Edward Phillips
Apr 16, 1975
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Roy Edman Jones
Jul 3, 1979
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Robert John Lather, II
Jul 6, 1982
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Steven Lester Bailey
Dec 10, 1983
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John Edward Hatfull
Apr 13, 1987
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Michael Earl Greene
Feb 5, 1993
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Todd Allen Burman
Jul 29, 1993
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Andrew Patrick Winzenread
Apr 25, 1997
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James Patrick Bartram
Mar 31, 1998
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David Anthony Deuter
Jul 16, 1998
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Richard Terrell Gaston
Mar 4, 1999
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Cory Raymond Elson
Apr 3, 1999
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Jason Eric Beal
Jan 15, 2000
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Scott Alan Patrick
Dec 22, 2003
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Gary Edward Dudley
Aug 22, 2006
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David Edward Rich
Jul 5, 2007
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Daniel Roy Barrett
Jan 27, 2008
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Peter Richard Stephan
Oct 11, 2019
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James R. Bailey
Mar 3, 2023
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Aaron N. Smith
Jun 28, 2023
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 62-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
45 officers from Indiana State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
