Beech Grove pastor takes part in candlelight vigil for fallen police officer; area school’s initiative keeps officers in daily prayer

Father Robert Robeson speaks on Feb. 18 during a candlelight vigil for Brian Elliott, a member of the Beech Grove Police Department who was shot and killed in the line of duty on Feb. 16. The vigil took place outside of the department’s police station. Father Robeson is pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Beech Grove. (Photo by Sean Gallagher)

By Sean Gallagher

BEECH GROVE—As the sun set in a beautiful, clear sky on Feb. 18 in Beech Grove, some 1,000 people gathered on Main Street in the small, southern Marion County town.

But it wasn’t the balmy weather or the day’s record-setting 70-degree temperature that drew so many people outside.

They gathered instead to honor Brian Elliott, an officer with the Beech Grove Police Department who had been shot and killed in the line of duty just 48 hours earlier.

His squad car was parked along Main Street outside the police station with dozens of floral bouquets and homemade signs expressing the support of the closeknit town of about 14,000 people.

As the sun sank below the horizon, the people on Main Street gathered in front of a stage next to Elliott’s police car and held small taper candles for a candlelight vigil service for the fallen police officer.

Father Robert Robeson, pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Beech Grove, was the first to speak and offer a prayer at the vigil.

‘He is united to Christ’

In trying to help those present understand the loss of Elliott, who was just 33 at the time of his death, Father Robeson shared this quote from St. Augustine:

“Is it not likely that God makes certain that no life is shortened or lengthened beyond that span required for it to sound its proper note and thus take its place in the harmony of creation’s song?”

The priest added, “By all accounts, Brian Elliott sounded a beautiful note. His impact within the harmony of creation’s song has been deeply moving to those who have listened. And his note continues to be sounded through the family members, friends and co-workers who have been the recipient of his love.

“He remains with us as he plays his note in the heavenly symphony where he has achieved a measure of freedom that we all long for. He’s no longer bound by the anxieties and struggles of human life. He is free in a way that we all hope to be free. He is united to Christ in a way that gives him the fullest measure of freedom.”

Father Robeson then offered a prayer for Elliott’s family and friends and those present at the vigil, asking God to help them “find peace in the memory of his goodness … .”

Praying for the members of the Beech Grove Police Department, Father Robeson asked God to “help them to know how deeply we honor their courage, generosity and sacrifice as they dedicate their lives to the protection of our Beech Grove community.”

Beech Grove mayor James Coffman, a member of Holy Name of Jesus Parish, spoke next at the vigil. He took office in January 2024. In September of that year, he swore Elliott in as a member of the Beech Grove Police Department.

Coffman praised Elliott as a native son of the town, a 2011 graduate of Beech Grove High School who was proud to serve his hometown as a police officer, describing him as “one of us.”

“We are standing at the place where Officer Elliott started his last shift on Monday,” Coffman said. “Our officers leave their family and friends each day. And they choose to walk through the doors [of the police station] not knowing if they will make it back home.

“That is what our officers do. That is what Brian did. … And that is what our officers will continue to do each and every day.”

Coffman later quoted John 15:13 in reflecting on the fallen police officer: “Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

“We lost Brian Elliott just 48 hours ago,” Coffman said. “And I assure you, he will never be forgotten. He offered his life for something greater and, in doing so, he changed all of our lives forever. Officer Elliott, his memory and his service are still alive and are with us.

“And I want his family to know that we are your family now. We will never forget you or our beloved Brian. Our city is who are because of the people who are gathered today. Our community is strong and we are resilient. And in this darkness, I am humbled by the outpouring of support and love, but I am not surprised. We are Beech Grove.”

Other speakers included Beech Grove Police Chief Michael Maurice, Rick Snyder, president of the Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and chaplain for the National FOP and Avis Frieson, a member of the Beech Grove Common Council.

Have faith ‘that good will prevail’

After the vigil, Father Robeson spoke with The Criterion on what it was like for him when he learned of the death of Elliott, who had helped provide security at Holy Name’s annual Octoberfest.

“It was devastating,” Father Robeson said. “It just made my heart drop. I know so many of the Beech Grove police officers. They’re so good to our parish. Whenever we have any issue, they’re there in a heartbeat. They really work on trying to build that up so that we trust them. And we do trust them very much.”

He said that the parish he leads is “an engaged member of the Beech Grove community, as am I.”

Father Robeson was asked to bless the city’s new police station when it was opened in 2023. Several members of the police department and the town’s fire department are Holy Name parishioners.

So, when Father Robeson was asked the day after Elliott was killed to take part in the vigil service, his decision was an easy one.

“I immediately agreed to do it,” he said. “It’s a moment of great tragedy in the town.”

Coffman also spoke with The Criterion after the vigil. He said he was not surprised by the large turnout for the event.

“This is what Beech Grove does,” he said. “We come together in triumph, and we come together in pain. This is what we do.”

The vigil took place on Ash Wednesday, a day of penance for Catholics and other Christians who observe the day that begins the season of Lent.

Coffman reflected on the role of his Catholic faith in coping with the loss of one of his town’s police officers.

“To be honest, I’ve struggled this week,” he said. “But I know Officer Elliott is in a much better place. I know that this is God’s plan and that things happen for a reason. We just have to rely on him and know that this is his plan.

“We’re not sure why. But we have to have faith that there is a reason. We have to have faith in the greater good and that good will prevail and evil will not.”

Students offer daily prayers, become spiritual friends

On the morning after Brian Elliott died in the line of duty as a member of the Beech Grove Police Department, the students of Lumen Christi Catholic School, a few miles north in Indianapolis, did something they’ve done every Tuesday morning for several years.

After worshiping together at Mass, the students prayed the Litany of St. Michael the Archangel, in the words said by the student who leads it each week, “for the safety and protection of police officers in Indianapolis.”

As part of an initiative, each student in the school is assigned a particular police officer to pray for each day using the following prayer:

“Dear God, Keep my officer safe day and night. Give them courage, strength and might. St. Michael the Archangel, pray for [name of police officer].”

The Legion of St. Michael the Archangel Lumen Christi Prayer Warriors does what its name suggests—pray for the safety and protection of Indianapolis police officers.

“In doing so, each student will become a spiritual friend and companion of their police officer,” states the group’s mission.

“Police officers voluntarily place themselves in positions of danger to keep order in our city and to provide protection to its citizens,” the prayer group cites as a reason for their initiative. “Lumen Christi School students wish to practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, of which we have all been called, by praying daily with pure hearts for the protection of police officers.”

Kris Barnes, an administrator at the school, has been involved with the program since its inception. She said former teacher Carol Feick had thoughts of such a ministry after the shooting and death of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Officer David Moore in January of 2011.

“I think Carol was heartbroken at the death of Officer Moore and was asking what she could do,” Barnes said. “I do believe the Lord put it on her heart what we as a school were to do.”

It took several years, but the program came to fruition in January of 2017.

Starting in the second grade, students pray for their police officers by name every day during their classroom prayer times.

“Our seniors today have been praying for the same man or woman officer since they were fourth graders,” Barnes noted. “Their officers will be passed on to second graders next year.”

While prayer is at the forefront of the initiative, students also collect snacks for the police department in their area a couple of times a year, and classes make cards every year that are passed on, too.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers also visit the school and its students on occasion.

“Last year, our eighth graders coordinated a luncheon with some of the officers they actually had been praying for since second grade,” Barnes said.

Although Officer Elliott was not on the school’s pray partner list, Barnes is “confident that he was prayed for during prayers in the classrooms.”
 

(Editor Mike Krokos contributed to this story.) †