The Tribune is spotlighting local law enforcement and first responders.
Whether they are police officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel or dispatchers, these men and women in uniform are highly trained to serve and protect their communities.
Name: Bob Lucas
Age: 64
Hometown: Seymour
Residence: Brownstown
Education: 1974 graduate of Seymour High School; graduate of the 143rd class of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy; 2009 graduate of the Indiana State Police Crime Scene Investigation School; graduate of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Homicide and Major Crime Investigation School; 2006 graduate of Indiana D.A.R.E. officer training (past officer); less-lethal instructor for 12 years; Glock armorer instructor for 26 years; ILEA instructor for 21 years; numerous other continuing education in various fields, including child deaths, autopsies and other types of death investigations
Occupation: Retired in January 2020 as detective CSI with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department; Sheriff Rick Meyer offered me a job and two days later came back as first part-time officer. I oversee the property/evidence room and all evidence going to and from ISP lab(s). Also assist in any other types of major crime(s) as CSI. Currently fully certified in all areas of law enforcement and ILEA.
Years of service: 33½ years; started with the sheriff’s department in 1987 under Sheriff Joe Rorig as a reserve officer, then full time and now part time; spent my entire career with the sheriff’s department; before that, I worked for my father-in-law for 20 years at Brownstown Hardware
Awards or honors: Numerous letters of commendation; first Reserve Officer of the Year in 1992; Police Officer of the Year from the Brownstown Exchange Club in 2015; Years of Service (over 20) from the Fraternal Order of Police Donald M. Winn Lodge 108 in 2020; top prebasic qualification score of 300 on Jan. 30, 1994; National Society Sons of the American Revolution Law Enforcement Commendation Medal in 2013
Organizations/affiliations: FOP; Indiana chapter of the International Association for Identification; International Crime Scene Investigators Association; International Association for Property and Evidence; requested for nomination to the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board for crime scene investigator committee member in 2021
What made you want to be a first responder?
I always liked and looked up to what a police officer is supposed to represent.
Did you have any influences in choosing your career?
Several officers in the sheriff’s department I got to know through the hardware over the 20 years I worked there.
What do you like about your current position?
The training is ever-changing and the types of daily and sometime hourly cases that would need to be investigated. Most of all, to serve the community I grew up in and the past and present people I have been fortunate to have worked beside.
What does it mean to serve your community and help people?
If you are in this for the paycheck, you are in the wrong calling. As I moved on, my calling was in death investigations, particularly suicides. I still feel like any agency needs to work these cases as best he or she can. We have a huge responsibility to give the most accurate answers to the family and friends left behind based on the evidence and facts.
Many people refer to first responders as heroes. Why would you consider a first responder heroic?
I am no hero. I was just blessed to live out a dream of being a police officer. My heroes are the victims of domestic violence, sexual assaults, children of abuse and neglect and my father and brother, who served during our wars. Police are no different than anyone else. We are human, but we are expected to place ourselves to higher standards than most others, and we should be held accountable.
Hobbies: Being outdoors, NASCAR races, spending time with my wife, kids and grandson and spending time on the range.
Favorite music: 1970s and country
Favorite food: Steaks and hot dogs
Favorite television show: “Chicago P.D.” and “Hill Street Blues”
Favorite movie: World War II movies and action shows
Favorite sports team: Brownstown Central Braves and Indiana University Hoosiers
Favorite vacation spot: Mountains
Role model: Parents and older siblings
Best advice: “You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.” — Winston Churchill