Terre Haute Police Department officer killed in the line of duty

UPDATE 7/8/21: Suspect identified as Shane Meehan, 44. He is in custody while remaining hospitalized from  a shootout with officers Wednesday.
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By Lucy Perry
News Writer 
Indiana Central News

The FBI is investigating a shooting that left one Terre Haute Police Department officer dead and a suspect hospitalized Wednesday afternoon. 

Detective Greg Ferency, a 30 year Veteran with the THPD, was shot and killed while working on  assignment with the FBI Taskforce on behalf of the department.
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Information on the fatal incident is limited at this time. However, around 2 p.m., emergency crews were dispatched to the city's Federal office building, located just behind the Vigo County courthouse and to the west of First Street. Investigators remained on scene for several hours.

Meanwhile, just a couple miles away, additional investigation was underway at Regional Hospital.  The suspect reportedly had fled the scene of the shooting near the courthouse and ultimately drove his pickup truck to to get medical care. Officers from multiple agencies blocked off the Emergency Room area behind the hospital to investigate further, as the suspect was undergoing surgery. His name has not been released at this time.

The deaths of two other THPD officers also remain fresh in the memories of local residents. Brent Long was shot and killed in 2011 and Rob Pitts in 2018.

Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter noted that Ferency, 53,  was a good man, as he addressed reporters at the courthouse parking lot. 

"It's a sad day for this community and the Terre Haute Police Department," he said. "You have to understand, this is the third Terre Haute Police officer killed in the line of duty --- in a very violent way --- in the last 10 years. It's not a good time to be a police officer in America."  

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch agrees the death is hard to understand. She offered the following statement regarding the death of Terre Haute Police Detective Greg Ferency:

"I want to send my heartfelt prayers to Terre Haute and Hoosier law enforcement across Indiana, after learning of the violent and careless assault on Terre Haute Police Detective Greg Ferency. Attacks on the brave men and women who answer the call to be our heroes and protect our citizens and state will not be tolerated.

"Detective Ferency was an honorable servant, who kept drugs off our streets and partnered with federal authorities to defend Hoosiers and his community. I am keeping Ferency's family and those who worked side by side with him during his 30 years of service in my thoughts as we come together to honor his commitment to making Indiana a safer place."