Services are today for fallen ISP detective
Comet staff report

Rich

Funeral services for Master Trooper Detective David E. Rich, 41, of rural Wabash, are at 10 a.m. today, Wednesday, in Wabash. The 18-year-ISP veteran was shot to death shortly after 4 p.m. July 5 by a motorist along U.S. 24, a quarter mile east of Indiana 115, near Wabash.

Rich worked out of the Indiana State Police Post at Peru, where he was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division. He had previously worked road patrol at Lafayette where he was assigned to Carroll County.

According to ISP, Rich was on duty, but in plain clothes, when he was killed. He was found by an Indiana State Excise Police Officer who had stopped to check on what he believed to be a personal injury crash. He found Rich, along with the apparent killer, Joseph M. Vultaggio Jr., 21, of Gaylord, Mich., both dead.

The investigation revealed that Rich did unholster his weapon, a nine-millimeter Glock semi-automatic handgun, that was found lying near his body, along with his police identification and police radio.

"Trooper Rich's death is a tragedy, but in law enforcement we accept that this is a possibility," said Carroll County Sheriff Tony Burns. "For us, this is kind of a reality check. You get into a routine and you get complacent about answering calls and dealing with the public. The fact is, we don't know what that person has just done that we've just stopped a lot of the time. Training is very key in our profession - but unfortunately you can't train for every scenario."

Carroll County Sheriff's Major Tobe Leazenby added, "Everything that everyone else is saying about Trooper Rich is true. He was the nicest guy you'd ever want to meet. I worked with him when he was a young troop on some thefts in the Oakdale Inn area, so I knew him for a long time. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."

Rich's father and brother are both veterans of law enforcement. His father, Jack, was with ISP before serving two terms as Miami County Sheriff. His brother, Bob, is an ISP captain.

Rich is survived by his wife, Connie, a seven-year-old daughter, Lauren, and twin four-yearold sons, Carson and Conner.

Memorial contributions can be made to: Children of Trooper David Rich Memorial Fund, c/o of First Merchants Bank 1250 N. Cass Street, Wabash, IN 46992.