Mishawaka Police holds memorial honoring fallen officers and K9

MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- The Mishawaka Police Department held a memorial service today honoring four of their fallen officers: Clarence Caspar, James Szuba, Thomas Roberts, Bryan Verkler, and their K9 Ricky. 

Families of the fallen were given a flag and a plaque in memory of their loved one and the ultimate sacrifice that they gave.

"I'll tell you what, seeing those names and watching these faces come up, it's almost like reliving, you know, the very day I mean, I get choked up, when I look into the faces of these families, makes me feel like, we're right back to the day that they passed," said Richard Freeman, President of the Mishawaka FOP. "So, it's a wide array of emotions. But at this point, it's to celebrate their life and the dedication that they've had to the communities."

After the ceremony, the police department had a dinner prepared for the family members and their police officers so that they could share a meal together.

"I was here when we lost these guys and our K9. So, it's great to see the families again, you know, and get back to them to speak with them and get in touch with them. But it's about them that's who it's about. It's about the families. They're the ones that had the biggest loss," said Freeman.