In Memoriam
Deputy Enrico Aquino Garcia Jr. died September 9th, 2007. Deputy Garcia died of a sudden heart attack while training with Indiana Task Force 7 a multi-jurisdictional and discipline response team. Garcia was currently serving with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security as a responder to Hazardous Materials incidents. Garcia had been a first responder for over 21 years with a background in fire and rescue services. Garcia was a special deputy for 5 years and had served seven years as a member of the Terre Haute Fire Department, a Town of Roachdale Deputy Marshal, and was an adjunct instructor of Ivy Tech and Indiana State University. Garcia was survived by his wife Elise Hunter Garcia and sons Joshua, Jacob and Jonah.
Correctional Officer Aaron Michael Schoffstall was born October 1st 1976 and died in the line of duty on November 28th, 2000. Correctional Officer Schoffstall was assisting another deputy at an auto accident on the ice covered Wabash River Bridge on State Road 63. Officer Schoffstall had been directing traffic at the crash when a vehicle approaching Schoffstall lost control on the ice, resulting in Officer Schoffstall falling from the bridge to his death. Officer Schoffstall was a two year veteran of the department and was laid to rest at Roselawn Memorial Park (Garden of Benevolence Lt. 212). Officer Schoffstall was survived by his wife Sara, daughter Bailey, father Steve who passed in 2002, mother Jena, and brother Shaun.
Sgt. Walter Kevin Artz was born on March, 18th 1955 and died in the line of duty on July, 1st 1987. Sgt. Artz died while attempting to defuse a domestic disturbance call. Sgt. Artz and other deputies responded to Hendricks Street in Northern Vigo County to a domestic dispute, as officers arrived they learned of an armed suspect inside the home. In an effort to defuse the situation officers went to the rear of the home to speak to the suspect and without warning the suspect drew a pistol and begin firing at officers. Deputies returned fire however Sgt. Artz was fatally wounded. The suspect, struck twice by officers returning gunfire later died at the scene of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Sgt. Artz was laid to rest at Roselawn Memorial Park (Garden of Serenity, Lt. 80). Sgt. Artz was survived by his wife Linda and daughters Lyndsay and Ashley.
Chief Deputy Joseph Paul Mankin born in 1896 died in the line of duty July 16th 1936. Chief Mankin was shot to death as he attempted to apprehend two armed robbery suspects near US Hwy 40 at the Wabash River Bridge. Chief Mankin left behind a wife and two sons. The suspects Willis Fuller and Shepard Blakemore had robbed a couple at gunpoint in Taylorville, a short time later Deputy Paul Zimmerman and Chief Mankin spotted the two suspects near the Vigo Ice Company. The suspects split up and fled around each side of the building, Deputy Zimmerman chased Blakemore, while Chief Mankin pursued the armed Fuller. As Chief Mankin closed in Fuller drew a revolver and fired three shots the 40 year old officer. Chief Mankin was struck in the chest and died instantly. A short time later Terre Haute Police offices apprehended Blakemore. Fuller was apprehended the next day in Paris, Illinois. Both suspects later tried and found guilty of the murder of Chief Mankin. Blakemore received life in prison, Fuller died in Indiana’s electric chair seventeen months later. Chief Mankin was laid to rest in Bethesda Cemetery (Lt. 224:Gr 7). He is survived by wife Hyla who died in 1967 and sons Jack, who died in 1995, and William who passed in 2004. William who was 12 years old at the time of his father’s death helped contribute to this remembrance.
Deputy Peter J. Feiler born on October 1st 1882 and died in the line of duty on November, 13th 1914. Two year veteran Deputy Feller was shot while attempting to disarm a man with a fun at an election polling place. Feiler, 31 years of age was investigating a report of a man with a gun at the 15th and Ash polling place. The armed subject, Wesley A. Mitchell had been “hanging around” the polls all day and as Deputy Feiler approached, Mitchell stepped back and without removing the pistol from his coat pocket fired at the deputy. The bullet struck the deputy in the abdomen. Deputy Feiler who was mortally wounded then engaged Mitchell and the two then fought over the gun. Deputy feller was finally able to subdue Mitchell. Sheriff Dennis Shea described Feiler as a brave man who gave his life while attempting to arrest a man he know to be armed. Feiler was laid to rest at St. Joseph Cemetery (Div5, Row4,Lot 24).
Feiler was survived by his wife Cora and children Herbert, Clarence, Margaret and Mary.
Deputy John M. Cleary was born on March 27th 1844 and died in the line of duty April 9th 1892. Deputy Cleary was shot four times by a twenty year old burglary suspect. Cleary later died from a bullet that had been lodged in his chest. On June 8th, 1877 Deputy Cleary had arrested Ernest Whitehouse for an overnight break-in of Roberts & Hickey grocery store at 8th and Poplar streets. Whitehouse had crawled through a window and stole twenty dollars from a cash drawer. Deputy Cleary later tracked Whitehouse and he admitted to the break-in. While retrieving the money Whitehouse hid a revolver and vowed to never return. Deputy Cleary then escorted Whitehouse back to the grocery store to make restitution as the two neared the intersection of 5th and Ohio Street Whitehouse pulled the revolver and shot Deputy Cleary twice in the chest and abdomen. Whitehouse then fled on foot and bystanders who attempted to detail him were fired upon by Whitehouse. The critically wounded Deputy was carried to his home and given whiskey and opiates. Doctors were unable to remove the bullet from his chest. In the initial confusion the Terre Haute Weekly Gazette first reported that the deputy had died, however the 33 year old slowly recovered and later returned to the sheriff’s office.
On May 3rd, 1878 Ernest Whitehouse was cornered inside a home at 5th and Eagle Street, as the home was surrounded by officers including Cleary who was closing in on Whitehouse. Whitehouse again shot Cleary in the leg and head. The wounded deputy grappled with Whitehouse and was finally subdued by Cleary and other officers. Cleary again recovered from his injuries and returned to the force, and was elected sheriff from 1883-1887. The bullet his carried in his chest for his entire career caused Cleary many ailments and was credited for causing his death in 1892. Cleary was laid to rest at St. Joseph Cemetery (Div.25 Block 7 Lot 30). He was survived by his wife Bridget Rohn Cleary and son John J. Cleary.