INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department on Monday invited the public to drive by fallen Officer Breann Leath’s car parked outside the IMPD East District headquarters.
People, however, are asked to remain in their cars as they pay their respects and not to leave flowers or other gifts.
Leath’s funeral is set for Thursday morning.
This paying of respects at her car outside the East District, 201 Shadeland Ave., is being offered in lieu of a public visitation and public attendance at Thursday’s funeral services, which will not be possible as a result of ongoing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also on Monday, Mayor Joe Hogsett and IMPD announced the launch of an initiative to allow residents to grieve the loss of Officer Leath and share kind words, interactions, memories, photographs, art or a combination of those. In the coming weeks, the content will be combined and provided to Officer Leath’s family. Residents are asked to send in these digital submissions in lieu of leaving flowers or other gifts at Officer Leath’s vehicle.
Residents can submit their memories and condolences at OfficerLeathLegacy@indy.gov.
“While Officer Leath’s years on earth were all too brief, her life – lived in service to others – has had a profound impact on so many Indianapolis residents. That’s why we are calling on the community to share their stories and offer their condolences to the family through our designated email address,” Hogsett said in a news release issued Monday by IMPD. “While COVID-19 restrictions mean adjusting how the community comes together, I know that residents will want Officer Leath’s family to feel their full support during this difficult time.”
Earlier, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department announced an official memorial fund for the family of Officer Breann Leath. Direct donations to the Officer Breann Leath Memorial Fund of the Central Indiana Police Foundation can be made here.
In addition, a T-shirt and hoodie sale with all proceeds raised by the sale of t-shirts and hoodies at shopIMPD.com will be donated to the memorial fund. T-shirts, long-sleeve T-shirts, youth-sized T-shirts and hoodies are available. Delivery is estimated at five to eight days.
Leath was shot and killed while responding to a domestic dispute last week. Her funeral is set for Thursday morning.
Elliahs Dorsey has been arrested for her murder. Online court records do not yet list an initial hearing for him.
