Officers honored for action during January shooting at Elkhart Martin’s
Posted: May 12, 2025 6:36 PM EDT | Updated: May 12, 2025 6:58 PM EDT
ELKHART, Ind. -- Two brave Elkhart Police officers, Corporal Paul Vandenberg and Patrolman Ethan Pasternak were both honored by the Elkhart Rotary Club on Monday for their lifesaving efforts in the January 27th shooting that killed two bystanders at the Martin’s on East Jackson Boulevard.
They each received the International Rotary Club’s “Life Safety” award for their quick response.
Despite both men being injured in the shooting, they were able to return fire at the gunman, killing him.
The first responders in attendance also took the time to remember the lives lost; 19-year-old Martin’s employee Annasue Rocha and 49-year-old customer Benjamin Jeffrey.
While neither officer chose to speak at the event, they both expressed a desire to get back to the force sometime in the near future.
Their exact return date is not clear.