By Mark Ambrogi

Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Kimberly Jowitt was a pioneer in the Hamilton County law enforcement arena.

U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN5) shared memories of Jowitt during the 34th annual Hamilton County Law Enforcement Memorial Service at Carmel Civic Square on May 6. Jowitt, whose husband Kevin is Noblesville Police Department Chief, died at age 58 in July 2014 after a three-year battle with cancer.

“She broke down gender barriers,” Brooks said. “She had many firsts in her career and it opened the door to many female public servants, many women who had not been in law enforcement. Kim Jowitt was the first in Hamilton County. Many women saw that they too could help serve their country and serve their communities.”

Brooks entered the details of Jowitt’s service into the Congressional Record, the official daily record of the proceedings of the U.S. Congress.

“The Congressional Record means she will forever be memorialized in the history of our country,” Brooks said. “Our Congressional Record is filled of memories of heroes and people who changed lives, people who touched lives and gave so much.”

Brooks said she entered on Sept. 14, 2014 but wanted to wait to share in with others in Hamilton County.

“For three decades she served the people of Hamilton County with a dedication that our community and the entire state of Indiana owe an eternal gratitude to,” Brooks said.

Jowitt, an Indianapolis native, was hired by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department in 1978 as a civilian employee. During her 37-year career with the Sheriff’s Department, she held several positions concluding with the position of administrative sergeant handling special assignments.

“She was a career public servant who worked tirelessly to make Hamilton County a better place to live,” Brooks said. “Although she had many ups and downs with her battle against cancer, she remained faithfully optimistic and never lost her will to fight. She brought the same tenacity to her career, becoming the first female officer, investigator and supervisor in the history of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department. I’m proud to represent a community with a legacy of female public servants as dedicated as Kim Jowitt.”

During the memorial service, Carmel mayor Jim Brainard issued a proclamation making May 10-16 as National Police Memorial Week.

In reading the proclamation, Brainard said, “I call upon all citizens of Carmel and upon all patriotic, civic and educational organizations to join me in commemorating law enforcement officers, past and present, who by their faithful and loyal devotion to their duty and responsibilities have rendered a dedicated service to their communities and so doing have established themselves an enviable and endearing reputation for preserving the rights of all citizens.”

The choirs from three Carmel elementary schools, College Wood, Mohawk Trails and Towne Meadow, performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Song for the Unsung Hero.” Carmel High School junior Katrien Vanderbeck sang “Go Rest High on That Mountain.”

Hamilton County Fallen Heroes

Deputy Constable William Frank Carey

Carmel Police Department

End of Watch (date of death): June 8, 1900

Officer Frances Woodrow Castor

Noblesville Police Department

EOW: July 28, 1948

Trooper Richard Gerald Brown

Indiana State Police

EOW: Sept. 27, 1967

Deputy Marshal David Keith Brown

Westfield Police Department

EOW: Jan. 11, 1969

Master Trooper Michael Earl Green

Indiana State Police

EOW: Feb. 5, 1993