Honor Guard

The Goshen Police Department Honor Guard formed in February 1999 after Officer Tommy Goodwin was killed in the line of duty.
The unit ensures fallen officers receive honors with dignity, precision, and respect.
Members have trained in Minnesota and with the elite “Old Guard” at Arlington National Cemetery.
The Honor Guard has earned recognition across Indiana and beyond for its professionalism and dedication to service.

Training and the Goshen Honor Guard Camp

Formal honor guard training opportunities were once rare. To fill this need, the Goshen Police Department established the Goshen Honor Guard Camp in 2003. The camp quickly grew into one of only two programs of its kind in the nation, alongside the Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association camp.

The camp provides instruction in:

• Line-of-duty funeral protocol
• Color guard procedures
• Proper flag etiquette

Guest instructors from the Indiana State Police, Indianapolis Police Department, and Mishawaka Police Department help guide the sessions. More than 200 police officers and firefighters from 10 states and one federal agency have completed training through the Goshen program.

Camp Motto: “The best we can do is the least we can do.”

Photos: 2025 GPD Honor Guard Camp

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Honor Guard Instructors

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Service and Outreach

The Goshen Honor Guard regularly assists with funerals, memorials, and public ceremonies across the region.

The unit has provided honors for the funerals of former Indiana Governors Robert D. Orr and Frank O’Bannon, trained participants for the State Law Enforcement Officer and Firefighters Memorial at the Indiana Statehouse, and represented Indiana at the National Law Enforcement Memorial Services in Washington, D.C.

In addition, members have served at the World Police and Fire Games, the Indiana Governor’s Conference, and numerous civic events throughout northern Indiana and neighboring states.