Fallen Officer Breann Leath’s legacy continues to impact central Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS — April 9 is the day the central Indiana community remembers, honors and mourns Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Officer Breann Leath the most, but if you look around there are signs of her impact everywhere. 

Along US-52 on the east side of Indianapolis, a sign calls the stretch of the road the “Officer Breann Leath Memorial Mile.” Wednesday, there was a rose tied to the brown sign.

It’s a reminder to drivers of Leath’s sacrifice. On April 9, 2020, Leath and other officers responded to a domestic violence call. Leath was shot and killed during that call.

”She knowingly kissed her son goodbye, put her uniform on, logged onto her beat, came into work and responded to a call that a strong potential to result in violence,” said IMPD East District Commander Michael Leeper.

Mayor Joe Hogsett, IMPD Chief Chris Bailey, dozens of officers and Leath’s friends and family gathered Wednesday at IMPD East District to remember her.

”Her death is not the reason why we honor her standing here today, it’s her life,” said Leeper.

Leath’s mother Jennifer and other family members were in the front row for the ceremony.

”That’s why we honor and continue to honor her legacy and the selfless service she gave to this community, for the Leath family so they know she is never forgotten,” Leeper said.

At a mural of Officer Leath along an East District wall, officers and the Leath family laid her favorite, a sunflower, there in her memory.

”Though she’s no longer physically with us,” said Jennifer Leath. “She’s never far from my thoughts or my heart.”

Leath’s memory lives on across Indiana.

The nursery unit at the Indiana Dept. of Corrections Women’s Prison, where Leath worked before becoming a police officer, is now named in her honor. 

The Officer Breann Leath Memorial Maternal and Child Health unit has welcomed 82 infants born to women serving time in the facility since it was rededicated in 2020.

Local, state and federal law enforcement also created the Law Enforcement Action to Halt Domestic Violence or LEATH Initiative.

IMPD Deputy Chief of Criminal Investigations Kendale Adams said it’s a partnership to crack down on domestic violence offenders.

”We take those cases,” Adams said. “Particularly, that have a prior history or a firearm with a protective order or a misdemeanor prior domestic battery and we’re able investigate those cases to see if they qualify to be federally adopted.”

Adams said the penalties for federal cases can be much stiffer at the state level.

All of these efforts are in memory of Officer Breann Leath and what she stood for. 

”She wasn’t just my daughter,” Jennifer said. “She was a part of this IMPD family.”

If you’re looking for a way to honor Officer Leath, IMPD is hosting a memorial blood drive at East District on Friday, April 18. That’s at 201 North Shadeland Ave from Noon to 6 p.m.