Motorcycle club prepares for Rose Ride to support family of Deputy Koontz
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — An Indianapolis motorcycle club is preparing for a special ride to support the family of Howard County Deputy Carl Koontz.
The Rose Ride will help to raise money for the family. The deputy was shot and killed while serving a warrant in Russiaville almost a week ago.
Members are part of the Punishers Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club. It’s made up of retired or active officers, firefighters, emergency responders and military.
Kevin Massengale is working on his bike Friday evening at Renegade Classics. He said he’s getting everything ready to go for the Rose Ride in Howard County.
“We’re going to be there for the family. That’s what they need,” he said. “And every little bit helps and we just want them to know they’re not alone.”
Even though he did not know Deputy Koontz personally, he said news about his death hits close to home.
“It brings back a lot of thoughts being active duty and I lost a lot of friends in the same way and it hurts to remember their families,” he sobbed.
Massengale joined Punishers Law Enforcement two years ago after being in the military for 12 years.
He said the motorcycle club is a tight knit family. He and his wife Nicole have gone on similar rides in the past to support other families.
“When you lose somebody, the whole community loses somebody because one way or another, that officer touched your life whether he helped you fixed a flat tire or whether he helped you find your lost child,” said Nicole Messengale. “One way or another that officer touched the community. It’s a community loss not only for his blood family, but his family in blue.”
She works at Renegade Classics. Her boss is a retired detective with the Cumberland Police Department.
Vince Semona said the ride to Kokomo is important. He’s hoping for a chance to say thank you to the fallen deputy’s wife.
“It’s very tough on them and they have a very hard role it’s often the silent role that gets underappreciated it,” he said. “So I would thank her for letting us have the time we had with him.”
Police will escort the group of riders from Grissom Air Museum to the Howard County Sheriff’s Department starting at 2:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
Registration begins at 1:00 p.m.