First Sergeant John R. Petro celebrated 30 years of service with the ISP on November 24, 2021.  First Sergeant Petro is currently assigned to the Laboratory Division where he serves as the Field Support Region Supervisor (Crime Scene Supervisor) for Area II. 

Petro, a lifelong resident of Jay County, graduated from Jay County High School in 1987.  In 1991, he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Ball State University. 

Petro was appointed as a Trooper on November 24, 1991 after graduating from the 49^th ISP Academy Class.  He was first assigned to the former Redkey Post where he patrolled in Jay and Randolph Counties.  In 2003, he was transferred to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division to serve as the School Bus Inspection Coordinator for the Redkey District.  In 2011, Petro was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and transferred to the Laboratory Division where he served as a Crime Scene Investigator at the Fort Wayne Regional Laboratory until being promoted in to his current supervisory position. 

During his career, Petro has served the Department as a member of the Tactical Intervention Platoon, the Critical Incident Debrief Team and as a Field Training Officer.  Petro and his wife Jenny have two grown children, Johnathon and Katlin, and two grandchildren. 

Sergeant Lionel “Andy” Smith celebrated 30 years of service with the ISP on November 24, 2021. Sergeant Smith currently serves as a District Squad Leader at the Fort Wayne Post, where he supervises Troopers assigned to DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble and Steuben Counties.

A native of Muncie, Indiana, Smith graduated from Delta High School in 1985.  He attended Ball State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice in 1989. 

Smith was appointed as a Trooper on November 24, 1991 after graduating the 49^th ISP Academy Class.  His first assignment was to the Toll Road Post where he patrolled LaGrange and Steuben Counties for six years.  In 1997, Smith transferred to the Fort Wayne Post where he was assigned to patrol duties in Steuben and DeKalb Counties until late 2009 when he was re-assigned to the Meth Suppression Section.  In August of 2016, Smith was promoted to the rank of Corporal to serve as a District Duty Officer, a position which he held until his promotion to Squad Sergeant in January 2019.

During his career, Smith has also served as a Field Training Officer, a member of the Tactical Intervention Platoon, and a certified speed timing instructor.  Smith and his family are residents of rural Steuben County.

Master Trooper Trent Kiefer- celebrated 25 years of service with the ISP on December 15, 2021.  M/Tpr Kiefer currently is assigned patrol duties in Huntington and Whitley Counties, and also serves as the Commander for the ISP Hostage Crisis Negotiations team.

Kiefer, a native of Huntington, Indiana, is a 1991 graduate of Huntington North High School. He graduated from Vincennes University in 1993 with an Associate Degree in Law Enforcement, and then in 1996 he graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice & Criminology. He was appointed as a trooper on December 15, 1996 after graduating from the 54^th ISP Academy Class.

Kiefer was first assigned to the Toll Road Post from 1996-1997.  In 1997 Kiefer was transferred to the Fort Wayne Post, where he has remained for the duration of his career.  Alongside his primary patrol responsibilities, for the past 15 years he has served on the Hostage Crisis Negotiations Team, served four years as a Team Leader, and presently the Commander of HCN. Kiefer has also served as a Field Training Officer, a member of the district’s Tactical Intervention Platoon, the Meth Suppression Unit, and a Certified School Safety Specialist. 

Trent currently resides in Huntington with his wife Trionne and their two daughters, Ainsley and Elyse.

Master Trooper Steve Malone- celebrated 25 years of service with the ISP on December 15, 2021.  M/Tpr Malone is currently assigned patrol duties in Noble and LaGrange Counties. 

Malone is a native of Albion, Indiana, and a 1990 graduate of East Noble High School. After high school he attended Wright State University as a collegiate swimmer. Prior to finishing college, he was accepted into the 54^th ISP Recruit Academy, and was then appointed as a trooper on December 15, 1996.  

Malone was assigned to the Fort Wayne Post out of the academy, where he has remained for the duration of his career. Primarily assigned to road patrol duties in Noble & LaGrange counties, Malone presently serves also as a Field Training Officer, Background Investigator, and is a member of the Tactical Intervention Platoon.  Notably, Malone spent over 17 years as a scuba diver with the ISP Underwater Search and Rescue Team (USRT Team II), during which time he participated in several hundred operational and training dives, and served as the USRT II team leader for several years.  

Steve and his wife Rhonda are residents of Noble County, where they enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren.

Master Trooper Steve Smeltzley celebrated 25 years of service with the ISP on December 15, 2021.  M/Tpr Smeltzley is currently assigned to the Special Operations Division as a SWAT Operator on the North SWAT Team, a position which he has held for over 23 years.  

Smeltzley, a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a 1988 graduate of Bishop Dwenger High School.  In 1993 he graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. He was appointed as a trooper on December 15, 1996 after graduating with the 53rd ISP Academy Class.

Smeltzley was first assigned to the Fort Wayne Post from the academy, assigned primarily to patrol duties in Allen County.  In 1998 he competed for and was selected as a member of the ISP Emergency Response Team (SWAT), which at that time was a secondary assignment alongside his patrol responsibilities.  In 2008, when the ISP ERT transitioned into a full-time SWAT program, Smeltzley transferred from the Fort Wayne Post to the Special Operations Division, where he has remained since.

Over the course of his career Smeltzley has served as a Firearms Instructor, a Police Sniper/Observer while on SWAT, and he has been awarded the Department’s Combat Action Award on two separate occasions.   Steve and his wife Penny are residents of rural Allen County.

Master Trooper/Detective Matt Teusch- was recognized for 20 years of service with the Indiana State Police on December 9, 2001. He currently serves as a detective at the Fort Wayne Post, with his primary area of assignment in Huntington County.

Teusch, a native of Huntington, Indiana, is a graduate of Huntington North High School, Vincennes University, and Indiana State University.  He was appointed as a trooper on December 9, 2001 after graduating with the 62nd ISP Academy Class.

Teusch has been assigned to the Fort Wayne Post for the duration of his career.  Prior to his current assignment, Teusch was assigned patrol duties in Adams, Allen, and Wells Counties.  Secondary assignments have included Field Training Officer, Background Investigator, and member of the Tactical Intervention Platoon.

In 2016, Detective Teusch and his wife April, both received Lifesaving Awards for their combined actions taken to assist a critically injured motorcyclist on US6 in Elkhart County. Matt and April currently reside in Huntington County with their four children, Levi, Luke, Kaitlyn, and Rebecca.

Master Trooper Jason Ward was recognized for 20 years of service on December 9, 2001.  Ward is currently assigned to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, primarily working CMV enforcement patrols in the southern portion of District 22.

Ward, a native of Huntington, Indiana, graduated from Huntington North High School in 1994. After high school, he served for seven years active duty as a Security Forces K9 Handler (Narcotic/ Explosive) in the United States Air Force. While in the USAF he earned an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from the Community College of the Air Force. 

Ward was appointed as a trooper on December 9, 2001 after graduating with the 62^nd ISP Academy Class. He was first assigned to the Fort Wayne Post, patrolling Huntington, Whitely, and Allen Counties.  In 2012 he transferred to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, where he is currently assigned.

M/Trooper Ward is certified as a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration North American Standard Part A Instructor, FMCSA General Hazardous Material Instructor, and a Standard Field Sobriety Test Instructor.  He has previously served as a Drug Recognition Expert and DRE Instructor, Crash Reconstructionist, Field Training Officer, and member of the Tactical Intervention Platoon. Ward was presented the Superintendent’s Award for the 62^nd Academy Class, and also the recipient of a Lifesaving Award in 2006.

Jason and his wife Michelle, and their daughter are residents of Huntington County.

Master Trooper/Detective Jake Quick- currently serving as a detective at the Fort Wayne Post, primarily assigned to investigations in DeKalb County. A native of Allen County, Quick graduated from Leo Jr/Sr High School in 2001. He was appointed as a trooper on November 19, 2006 after graduating the 66^th ISP Academy Class.  He was first assigned to the Toll Road Post, prior to his transfer to the Fort Wayne Post in 2009.  Quick was initially assigned patrol duties in Allen and DeKalb Counties from 2009 until being promoted to Detective in 2014.

In 2010 M/Trooper Quick was awarded as the 2010 Trooper of the District for the Fort Wayne Post, and was also awarded for having the department's highest number of DUI arrests for 2010.

Quick currently resides in DeKalb County with his wife Laura and their two daughters, Natalie and Cara.

Master Trooper/Detective Shannon (Mike) Carroll- currently serving as a detective at the Fort Wayne Post, primarily assigned to investigations in Noble County. A native of Whitley County, Carroll graduated from Churubusco High School in 1997, and holds an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice.  He was appointed as a trooper on November 19, 2006 after graduating from the 66th ISP Academy Class, and was first assigned to the Toll Road Post.  He was transferred to the Fort Wayne Post in 2009, where he was assigned to patrol duties in Noble and LaGrange Counties.

Master Trooper Carroll spent 5 years working as a Patrol K9 Handler prior to his promotion to detective.  Alongside his primary duties as an investigator, for the past 12 years, he has also served as a Control Tactics Instructor and member of the ISP Honor Guard.  Notably, in 2012 Carroll was awarded the department’s Silver Star award for valiant life saving measures taken to rescue an elderly female from burning car on SR9 in Noble County.

Carroll currently resides in Noble County with his wife and four children.

Master Trooper Bobby (Doug) Jackson- is currently assigned to patrol duties in Zone 3 (Adams, Blackford, Jay, and Wells Counties) at the Fort Wayne Post.  A native of Decatur, Indiana, Jackson graduated from Bellmont High School in 1993. He worked as a Patrolman for the Decatur Police Department from January 2002 – August 2006, prior to joining the Indiana State Police.  He was appointed as a trooper on November 19, 2006 after graduating the 66th ISP Academy Class, and first assigned to the Redkey Post.  Upon the closing of the Redkey Post, Jackson was transferred to the Fort Wayne Post. During his tenure at the Fort Wayne Post, Jackson has spent most of that time assigned to patrol, however he has also spent 5 years assigned to the Meth Suppression Team, and is currently assigned as a Crash Reconstructionist for the last 5 years.

Sergeant Justin Snyder celebrated 10 years of service on March 4^th earlier this year.  Sergeant Snyder is currently assigned to the ISP Intelligence and Investigative Technologies Section, where he serves as a Cyber Crimes Forensic Examiner for Area II (Fort Wayne and Bremen Posts). 

 Sergeant Snyder is a native of Albion, Indiana, and a 2001 graduate of Central Noble High School.  He attended Kalamazoo Community College and Indiana Wesleyan, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice in 2017.  

Snyder was appointed as a trooper after graduating from the 70^th ISP Academy Class.  He was first assigned to the Fort Wayne Post, where worked a patrol assignment until his promotion and transfer into his current position at the IITS in October of 2020. Snyder has previously served as a Field Training Officer, a Background Investigator, ISP Youth Camp counselor, Digital Media Recovery Specialist, and as an ISP Academy Instructor for RMS. He currently resides in Noble County with his wife, son, daughter, and medical mission child.  

On behalf of Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas Carter, we congratulate and thank these fine troopers for their many years of continued service with the Indiana State Police, and their steadfast dedication to the citizens of Indiana.

                                                                                                                   -Walker

                                                                        -30-