Law enforcement officers react to rash of NW Indiana officers shot in line of duty

The shooting of Indiana State Police sergeant Justin Heflin is still fresh on the minds of fellow police.

I-SP sergeant Ted Bohner has been in the field for nearly 20 years and says the frequency of these shootings is unusual.

"It's been unprecedented, to have this many critical incidents; two troopers and a La Porte County sheriff's deputy that have been shot since the end of May, I can't remember a time where we've experienced this in law enforcement in our area ever," said Sgt. Ted Bohner, Indiana State Police.

Sergeant Heflin is a part of the Lowell post, one that works closely with Bohner's.

"We're helping out by providing available resources with troopers being able to assist with calls, especially the overnight hours. Just being there for the family with whatever they may need, as well as with sergeant Heflin, checking in on him pretty much 24/7, just to provide whatever resources we can," said Sgt. Bohner.

Sgt. Bohner says in instances like this, the law enforcement community always steps up to help the injured officer and their family, including their work family.

"Our posts are very connected, not just between a toll road post and a Lowell post, but between the toll road post, the Bremen post, and the Lowell post, we often help each other out with manpower, and providing available resources between each individual post, especially if we have manpower shortages," said Bohner.

"It did seem almost hard to believe, but I had to believe it because I actually found out about it, I got called right after it happened by sergeant Fifield of the Lowell post, and he was calling me to say hey, I might need some help on this one, and hearing his voice, the gravity really sunk in," said Sgt. Bohner.

Sgt. Bohner says a big silver lining is that all three of the officers who were shot survived, and they haven't had to hold any funerals.