Motorists driving past Richmond on Interstate 70 will forever be reminded about the service and sacrifice of a Richmond Police Department officer.
The U.S. 27 bridge across I-70 will be named the Officer Seara Burton Memorial Bridge during an Aug. 14 ceremony. State Rep. Brad Barrett, a Richmond Republican who represents District 27, initiated renaming the bridge shortly after Burton’s death Sept. 18, 2022, and both houses of the Indiana legislature approved a resolution during their 2023 sessions recommending the Indiana Department of Transportation adopt the name.
The public is invited to the naming ceremony at 1 p.m. Aug. 14 at the Israel “Izzy” Edelman Police and Fire Training Center, 1740 S. Eighth St., Richmond, according to an RPD news release. U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, U.S. Rep. Greg Pence, State Sen. Jeff Raatz and Barrett are expected to attend.
“Officer Seara Burton exemplified the values of courage, commitment, and service,” the release said. “Her actions have left an enduring impact on Richmond, and this ceremony solidifies her memory, ensuring it will live on forever. By naming the bridge after Officer Burton, we aim to keep her legacy alive and remind everyone of the profound difference one person can make.”
Burton, 28, who became a K-9 officer during April 2022, was a four-year RPD officer when she was shot Aug. 10, 2022, during a traffic stop on North 12th Street. She later died from her injuries 17 days after being removed from life support.
A version of this article appeared in the August 7 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.