Local Indiana State Police troopers honored at annual State Police awards ceremony

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The Indiana State Police held an awards and recognition ceremony on Friday and some Michiana troopers were honored for their dedication, service, bravery, and devotion to the department and Hoosiers statewide.

Senior Trooper Arthur Smith, a ten-year Indiana State Police veteran who primarily patrols Elkhart County, was honored with a Lifesaving Award for actions he took while investigating a minor crash outside of Elkhart last December, where he quickly revived an unconscious driver.

Senior Trooper Smith was also recognized as the 2021 Trooper of the District for the Bremen Post, where he made 125 criminal arrests and over 80 traffic stops for vehicles traveling over 100 miles per hour on U.S. 20.

Another trooper who primarily patrols Elkhart County, Master Trooper Mick Dockery, was also honored at the ceremony with the District DUI Award for the Bremen Post.

Master Trooper Dockery removed 40 intoxicated drivers from Indiana’s roads in 2021, and has over 1,100 career arrests of intoxicated drivers during his 23-year tenure with the Indiana State Police.

Trooper Luis Alvarez, who patrols St. Joseph, Elkhart, and LaGrange Counties, received Trooper of the District for the Indiana State Police Toll Road Post.

Trooper Alvarez, who has been with the Indiana State Police for three and a half years, was responsible for 300 criminal arrests in 2021, and led his squad in every category of criminal enforcement.