The hearse carrying the body of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer Breann "Bre" Leath makes it way down the main straightaway at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway following a funeral services for the officer, Thursday, April 16, 2020, in Indianapolis. The funeral was held at the Speedway to allow officers to participate and adhere to social distancing rules because of the coronavirus pandemic. Leath was shot through an apartment door while responding with other officers to a domestic violence call. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
The Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - An Indianapolis police officer who was fatally shot while responding to a domestic violence call was remembered Thursday during her funeral as a dedicated, compassionate officer and a devoted young mother, with a police chaplain calling her 'œa beautiful flower that was picked way too soon.'ť
Numerous speakers, including Gov. Eric Holcomb, spoke during the service for Officer Breann 'œBre'ť Leath, 24, which was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in adherence with pandemic social distancing rules that limited Leath's family and guests to no more than 10 people per speedway suite.
Hundreds of police cars lined the track as officers watched a livestream of the service on cellphones and laptops. Officers wearing face masks later stood next to their vehicles, lights flashing, and saluted during a playing of taps that preceded a planned procession through downtown Indianapolis.
Police Chief Randal Taylor told mourners that Leath, who joined the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's nearly 1,700-office force in December 2017 and was fatally shot April 9, had 'œcourageously stood her post, representing what's best in society.'ť
'œBy simply putting on the uniform she made the world a better place,'ť he said.
Holcomb, who directed that flags across Marion County be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset Thursday, said Leath's death was 'œa stinging reminder of the risk that those who wear the uniform face every day.'ť
Tiana Leath, one of the slain officer's two sisters, offered a heartfelt remembrance, saying she looked up to her older sister even though as children she was bossy and wanted to run things. She recalled that Bre had shown her just two weeks ago how to make her 'œfamous mac and cheese'ť recipe, and said her late sister was a source of encouragement.
'œShe had a way of making you think, `You know what, I really can do better. I want more for myself,''ť Tiana Leath said, calling her sister 'œcompassionate, determined, God-fearing and beautiful."
'œI'm going to make you proud. Most definitely,'ť she said, speaking of her sister.
Tiana Leath said Bre, who was the mother a 3-year-old son, Zayn, was an 'œamazing" dedicated mother and promised that she and her family would shower him with love.
'œI want to you know Bre that Zayn will get so much love and kisses and tickles that you're going to be jealous,'ť she said, choking up with tears.
Police chaplain Patricia Holman called Leath 'œa beautiful flower that was picked way too soon.'ť
Previous funerals for fallen Indianapolis officers have been held in recent years at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, but the coronavirus pandemic forced the change of venue and social distancing restrictions.
A funeral procession was scheduled to leave the speedway and travel past police headquarters, the Marion County Sheriff's Department headquarters, downtown Indianapolis' Monument Circle and the Indianapolis police East District headquarters before proceeding to Crown Hill Cemetery for burial.
Leath was shot to death through an apartment's door while responding with three other officers to a domestic violence call, police said. Elliahs Dorsey, 27, is charged with murder, criminal confinement and four counts of attempted murder.
The hearse carrying the body of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer Breann "Bre" Leath makes it way down the main straightaway at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway following funeral services for the officer in Indianapolis, Thursday, April 16, 2020. The funeral was held at the Speedway to allow officers to participate and adhere to social distancing rules because of the coronavirus pandemic. Leath was shot through an apartment door while responding with other officers to a domestic violence call. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
The Associated Press
Officers throw carnations into a trailer to honor Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer Breann "Bre" Leath following her funeral at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Thursday, April 16, 2020. The funeral was held at the Speedway to allow officers to participate and adhere to social distancing rules because of the coronavirus pandemic. Leath was shot through an apartment door while responding with other officers to a domestic violence call. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
The Associated Press
The hearse carrying the body of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer Breann "Bre" Leath makes it way onto the track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway following a funeral services for the officer, Thursday, April 16, 2020, in Indianapolis. The funeral was held at the Speedway to allow officers to participate and adhere to social distancing rules because of the coronavirus pandemic. Leath was shot through an apartment door while responding with other officers to a domestic violence call. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
The Associated Press
The hearse carrying the body of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer Breann "Bre" Leath makes it way down the main straightaway at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway following a funeral services for the officer, Thursday, April 16, 2020, in Indianapolis. The funeral was held at the Speedway to allow officers to participate and adhere to social distancing rules because of the coronavirus pandemic. Leath was shot through an apartment door while responding with other officers to a domestic violence call. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
The Associated Press
The hearse carrying the body of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer Breann "Bre" Leath makes it way down the main straightaway at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway following a funeral services for the officer, Thursday, April 16, 2020, in Indianapolis. The funeral was held at the Speedway to allow officers to participate and adhere to social distancing rules because of the coronavirus pandemic. Leath was shot through an apartment door while responding with other officers to a domestic violence call. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
The Associated Press
Officers salute as the hearse carrying the body of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer Breann "Bre" Leath makes it way around the track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway following a funeral services for the officer, Thursday, April 16, 2020, in Indianapolis. The funeral was held at the Speedway to allow officers to participate and adhere to social distancing rules because of the coronavirus pandemic. Leath was shot through an apartment door while responding with other officers to a domestic violence call. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
The Associated Press
Officers salute as the hearse carrying the body of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer Breann "Bre" Leath makes it way around the track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway following a funeral services for the officer, Thursday, April 16, 2020, in Indianapolis. The funeral was held at the Speedway to allow officers to participate and adhere to social distancing rules because of the coronavirus pandemic. Leath was shot through an apartment door while responding with other officers to a domestic violence call. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
The Associated Press
The hearse carrying the body of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer Breann "Bre" Leath makes it way down the main straightaway at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway following a funeral services for the officer, Thursday, April 16, 2020, in Indianapolis. The funeral was held at the Speedway to allow officers to participate and adhere to social distancing rules because of the coronavirus pandemic. Leath was shot through an apartment door while responding with other officers to a domestic violence call. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
The Associated Press
An officer places a carnation in a trailer to honor Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer Breann "Bre" Leath following a funeral service at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Thursday, April 16, 2020, in Indianapolis. Leath was shot through an apartment door while responding with other officers to a domestic violence call. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
The Associated Press
This June 14, 2018 photo provided by the Indianapolis Police Department shows Indianapolis Police Officer Breann Leath. Elliahs Dorsey has been formally charged with murder in the slaying of Leath who authorities say was shot through an apartment's door while responding to a domestic violence call. Dorsey was charged Tuesday, April 14, 2020 with one count of murder in last Thursday's killing of Officer Leath. (Indianapolis Police Department via AP)
The Associated Press
This undated photo provided by the Indianapolis Police Department shows Elliahs Dorsey. Doesey has been formally charged with murder in the slaying of an Indianapolis officer who authorities say was shot through an apartment's door while responding to a domestic violence call. Dorsey was charged Tuesday, April 14, 2020, with one count of murder in last Thursday's killing of Officer Breann Leath. (Indianapolis Police Department via AP)
The Associated Press