2,000 motorcyclists ride to support family of Deputy Koontz
HOWARD COUNTY (WISH) — Hundreds of people attended a motorcycle ride late Saturday afternoon honoring the life and supporting the family of Howard County Deputy Carl Koontz.
Deputy Koontz, 27, was killed in the line of duty last weekend.
- PHOTOS: Rose Ride honors Deputy Koontz
Indiana State Police estimated 2,000 motorcycles participated in the Rose Ride. The Unforgotten Souls Motorcycle Club in Crown Pointe Indiana organized the ride.
Members met with other bikers at Air Grissom Museum and made the ride to the Howard County Sheriff’s Department.
- PHOTOS: Procession honors Deputy Koontz
Police escorted hundreds of motorcyclist, many riding with heavy hearts thinking about a family whose life has forever changed.
“It’s going to be tough and it’s a hard thing to do,” said Paul Donaldson, who attended the Rose Ride. “You know, I haven’t experienced anything like this, but I just hope that they could get through this.”
Paul Donaldson is a firefighter with the Peru Fire Department. He’s fighting back the tears just thinking about the sacrifice.
“What he did was a great thing to protect the people around here and I just want show everyone that I appreciate what he’s done,” Donaldson said.
As the motorcycles streamed in one by one, Dawn Lawson said she couldn’t help but to take it all in.
“It’s tingling,” she said. “It’s a feeling you can’t really explain to somebody else.”
She and Cindi Owens live in Kokomo. Both said they are forever grateful for law enforcement.
“We support all law enforcement and it gives you more of an incentive to tell them that when you see them,” Owens said.
Deputy Koontz served and protected the people of Howard County for three years.
He was shot and killed while serving a warrant in Russiaville last Sunday. He leaves behind his wife and their 8-month-old son.
People from Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio placed flowers to honor the deputy’s life.
“Deputy Koontz was an extremely humbled person and he would be very humbled by this and just advise that he wasn’t worth it but he definitely was,” Howard County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Sandra Baldwin said.
Organizers said Deputy Koontz’ mother and two sisters were in attendance. The Rose Ride raised money for Koontz’ family.