Lasting Legacies: The Commemorative Coin of Heroism

By Logan Foster | Redress South Bend

Feb 14, 2024

The monthly meeting between South Bend residents and the South Bend Police Department unfolded on Feb. 14, 2024, inside the department’s auditorium at 701 W. Sample Street, a room that doubles as a memorial to officers who died in the line of duty.

The gathering, focused on reviewing crime statistics, was routine in form but marked a first for Redress South Bend. It was the first time the outlet documented the meeting with camera equipment.

At the conclusion of the session, Officer Brian Meador presented a commemorative coin. One side bears the Latin inscription “In Gloria Sempiterna,” meaning “In Eternal Glory,” alongside an image of two angels honoring a warrior depicted with the department’s badge as a shield. The reverse lists the names of 15 officers whose deaths are memorialized by the department.

The officers honored on the coin are:

• Nick Polizzotto

• Scott Severns

• Paul Deguch

• Thomas DeRue Sr.

• Ronald St. Germain Sr.

• Howard Wagner

• Charles Farkas Sr.

• Delbert Thompson

• Lloyd Thompson

• Neil McIntyre

• Fred Buhland

• Hans Brandt

• Lewis Keller

• Samuel Cooper

• Oscar Christensen
  

The coin serves as a tangible reminder of service and sacrifice, as well as of the officers who continue to work in the community today.

As someone who frequently reports on issues of racial inequality, government accountability, and institutional misconduct, it is also important to recognize those who have dedicated their lives to public service and community safety.

The names engraved on the coin represent individuals whose contributions extend beyond a ceremonial tribute. They reflect a legacy of service that remains part of the city’s history and civic memory.