Deputy Chief Gary Martin and Lieutenant Gary Dudley, of the Indiana State Police, were struck and killed while they were participating in a charity bicycle ride for the Indiana chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors.

   Both officers were representing their agencies while riding with seven other active and retired officers and one civilian survivor on a 102-mile leg on the seventh day of the 13-day, 1,058-mile bike ride that traveled the perimeter of the state.

   The cyclists were riding southbound on State Road 63 about two miles south of Interstate 74 near Perrysville when the driver of a freight truck rear-ended their support van. The van, which was then pushed into the group of riders, had a large banner warning of the cyclists and was using flashing amber lights at the time of the collision.

   Deputy Chief Martin and Lieutenant Dudley died at the scene as a result of their injuries. One of the other cyclists and the drivers of both vehicles were injured.

   No charges were filed against the 49-year-old man who was driving the freight truck.

   Deputy Chief Martin, from Merrillville, had previously served with the Gary Police Department for 25 years. He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, three sisters and two brothers, one of whom had served as a reserve sergeant with the Mt. Juliet Police Department in Tennessee.

   His son previously served with the Gary Police Department and the Indiana Gaming Commission. His brother-in-law, Lieutenant Thurman E. Sharp, of the Marion County Sheriff's Department, was killed in the line of duty on December 25, 1988.

   Deputy Chief Martin was one of the founding members of Cops Cycling for Survivors.

Military Service United States Army

FBI National Academy 142nd Session Graduate (1985)

Memorial Tribute • In 2007, State Road 63 from State Road 32 to Interstate 74 in Vermillion County was dedicated the Gary E. Dudley and Gary L. Martin Memorial Highway in their honor.

Historical Note • This incident was one of 24 which resulted in the line of duty death of two officers.

Read more on Deputy Chief Martin being remembered on the 20th anniversary of his death in our News Release.