Jasper Indiana State Police Post Honored with Newest Indiana Historic Marker

Jasper - Wednesday, the Indiana Historical Bureau honored the Indiana State Police Jasper Post with a historical marker.

Applause drowned out the sound of nearby Newton Street as the state's newest historical marker was unveiled. Built in 1937 and opened as a post in 1938, the state-of-the-art post served 14 counties.

While other posts have been rebuilt or consolidated, over 80 years of service later, Captain Doug Carter, ISP, isn't going to let this building go anywhere.

"There's been so much discussion about consolidation of our districts over time, and over my lifeless body will this not remain a state police post," Cpt. Carter said. "Nothing is going to happen to this building and I'm very, very proud of it. It's a pleasure to come down here, you all have something very special."

In its inception in 1938, the radio tower which stood as one of five in the state helped modernize policing, said Jill Weiss with the Indiana Historical Bureau.

"This new technology allowed officers to reach any part of the 14-county district that the post served in a much quicker timeframe than before," Weiss said. "Crime decreased by the end of that first year by 40% and there was only one bank robbery that year."

This marker, Weiss said will connect that past to the present.

"We like to think as markers as sort of a tangible connection between time and place," Weiss said. "They really help to return stories to the landscape and remind people of the important people and events who formed their communities."

Captain Ron Galaviz, ISP, connected the past and present in another way. Cpt. Galaviz acknowledged and thanked retired officers from the post, dozens of whom were in the audience.

"Thank you to everyone that is here: retirees, current personnel, spouses, civilians, anyone that ever walked through these doors since 1937 and called Jasper home... What you've done since that time, and I hate to use a term from a movie, but, it literally echoes in eternity," Galaviz said. "You have set the bar for generations that have come behind you, there are troopers standing in the crowd that wanted to be troopers because of you."

The inscription on the historical marker reads:

STATE POLICE JASPER POST

The Works Progress Administration helped build modern State Police facilities and a network of radio towers in strategic locations across the state.

The improved technology and coverage helped troopers coordinate efforts, respond quickly, and decrease crime. The WPA completed the State Police Jasper Post (No. 8) in 1938, which served fourteen surrounding counties.