Optimist Club of Jasper and Fraternal Order hold Police Dinner and Candlelight Memorial Service
The Optimist Club of Jasper and the Fraternal Order of Police celebrated local law enforcement and remembered officers who have lost their lives at the annual dinner and Candlelight Vigil held on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the Habig Center in Jasper.
The annual event honors local law enforcement and those who have died in the line of duty.
Listed among Optimist International’s five tenets is the directive to inspire respect for the law. The Jasper club’s dinner and vigil, which is planned and organized with the Fraternal Order of Police in conjunction with the Optimist Club of Jasper, fulfills that tenet in many ways.
“This is about bringing all of our law enforcement together to let them know we appreciate them and that we appreciate what they do and the sacrifices they and their families make on a daily basis,” said Audra Schue, the Optimist chairperson of the event. “It is important to recognize those who help us on a daily basis.”
Optimist member Jeff Jessee served as MC for the evening. The event opened with bagpipe music from John Smith of the Huntingburg Fire Department and the Pledge of Allegiance. Paul Eckert, President of the Club, welcomed everyone with a tribute to their selfless service and support of the community. After the invocation, a delicious dinner from Oink Smoke House and Carodella’s Catering was served to the law enforcement
personnel and their guests.
School Resource Officer Jason Knies of the Jasper Police Department was awarded the Optimist Club of Jasper Outstanding Law Enforcement Award for 2026. His wife, Heather and children, Quinten and Kinley, along with his parents, Glenn and Karen Knies, were in attendance.
Officer Knies has served our community for 20 years as a law enforcement officer, including 11 years as a dedicated School Resource Officer. As stated in his nomination letter, Officer Knies does not simply serve in our schools; he is an integral part of them. His extraordinary involvement, unwavering dedication, and genuine concern for young people have made a lasting, positive impact on countless lives and reflect the very best of law enforcement service.
Robert and Karen Whitten were the recipients of the Optimist Club of Jasper Respect for Law Outstanding Citizen Award. The Whiten family has consistently demonstrated exceptional support for public safety in our community. In 2018, they envisioned a creative approach to strengthen connections between students and officers that would be modern, engaging and approachable. They developed a plan to provide distinctive SRO (School Resource Officer) vehicles to capture attention and encourage positive interactions with students.
Their efforts led to the acquisition of vehicles for the Jasper Police Department’s two SRO’s, outfitted with eye-catching graphics incorporating the school colors and logo, while still maintaining their identity as police vehicles. This commitment has extended beyond Jasper, assisting the Huntingburg Police Department and continuing upgrades and expansion.
They do not remain on the sidelines when change is needed; instead, the couple has actively engaged with leaders, made calls, sent correspondence and collaborated with decision-makers, always focused on how best to enhance public safety.
John Watkins, Indiana Conservation Officer, introduced the featured speaker for the evening, Derrick Lawalin, Chief of the Tell City Police Department, who honored Sergeant Heather J. Glenn of the Tell City Police Department, who made the ultimate sacrifice when she passed away on July 3, 2023, in the line of duty.
Glenn had more than 20 years of experience in law enforcement and was Tell City’s first woman to serve as a
full-time officer, serving the citizens of Perry County and Tell City. She loved her rescue pets and her favorite nephew, Trace, more than anything. When she was not out protecting and serving her community, you could find Heather mowing grass, kayaking, shopping for a new pair of shoes, or attending live concerts.
She followed in her father’s footsteps and was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police. Whether in a uniform or not, Heather was always helping out in her community. She was everything a good police officer should be and treated each person with dignity and respect, no matter the situation. She had also shared with her colleagues that if anyone were ever to die, she wanted it to happen to her rather than her colleagues, who were married.
Her parents, Bob and Jayne (Claise) Glenn, and nephew Trace Glenn were in attendance for the evening.
Lawalin reinforced that her family needs our love and support more than ever. That tied strongly to the conclusion of the evening, with the candlelight ceremony and the roll call of all officers who have lost their lives in the local area since the beginning of record-keeping.
Retired Conservation Officer Tom Jahn provided opening remarks and the closing prayer. John Smith played “Amazing Grace” on his bagpipes as candles were lit by all individuals present, and Barbara Jahn sang “They Will Be Remembered”.
The indoor program concluded with the reciting of the Optimist Creed and recognition of the group of 27 Optimist members who were in attendance to show their support by Audra Schue, chairperson of the event from the Optimists. Table decorations were drawn as attendance prizes.
