Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 12:24 PM
Through his hard work and dedication to public safety, Trooper Christopher Waltz of the Indianapolis District has been given the 2016 Indiana State Police Trooper of the Year award.
Trooper Waltz was nominated for the award by his supervisor Sgt. Brent Gulinson based on his work ethic, values and overall performance during the 2016 calendar year. In his nomination letter Sgt. Gulinson noted “Trooper Waltz is a highly motivated trooper, with a work ethic that is second to none. He displays a high level of competency, and is extremely dependable and self-motivated. Trooper Waltz always presents a positive and professional image of himself and the Indiana State Police. He is the consummate shift partner, always willing to assist fellow troopers and other law enforcement agencies both on-duty and off-duty. He routinely volunteers for assignments and special details and can be entrusted to complete them without issue.”
In 2016 Trooper Waltz patrolled Marion County on middle shift (2:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.) and had the following criminal and traffic enforcement activity:
- 296 criminals put in jail resulting in 356 seperate criminal charges, 81 of which were felonies.
- 87 criminal cases investigated – most as a result of traffic stops he initiated
- 16 DUI arrests
- 8 stolen vehicles recovered
- 811 traffic tickets issued
- 511 written warnings issued
- 484 police services – assisting the public
- 243 vehicle crashes investigated
Each of the 14 Indiana State Police Districts present a yearly “Trooper of the District” award within their respective areas. Trooper Waltz was chosen by the command staff at the Indianapolis Post to receive this award. From the elite list of “Trooper of the District” nominees, Waltz was chosen by the Indiana State Police command staff, including Superintendent Doug Carter, to receive the department’s highest yearly honor, Indiana State Police Trooper of the Year. Indianapolis District Commander Lt. Jeff Payne said “Chris is an exemplary police officer whose efforts have undoubtedly saved lives. He strives to represent the Indiana State Police in the most professional way and is a great asset to our district.”
Trooper Christopher Waltz is a native of the south side of Indianapolis and a 2005 graduate of Southport High School. After high school Waltz attended Ivy Tech College and worked for FedEx until being hired by the Marion County Sheriff’s Department in 2010. In December of 2014 Waltz graduated from the 74th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy and was assigned to the Indianapolis District. When asked what his favorite part of being a trooper is, Waltz said “I truly enjoy the ability to do proactive police work, each day I want to build relationships within my patrol area and help make our community safer for everyone.” Trooper Waltz currently resides in Indianapolis with his wife and two children.
Waltz will be honored during an upcoming statewide awards ceremony April 21st, 2017 at the Indiana Government Center.
SOURCE: Indiana State Police